Employment in Sport

When we talk about sports in Romania, the conversation quickly turns to football, Olympic medals, or the lack of sports halls in schools. Rarely do we get to the sports economy, specifically how many people work in the sector, how many companies there are, how much we export, how much we import, and what happens with the nearly 9.000 of students graduating each year from physical education and sports faculties.

Eurostat data show that sport is not just a recreational activity or a spectacle. It is an economic sector with jobs, companies, exports, and a multiplier effect on public health and productivity. Today, at The MacRO Zone, we open the topic of sports.

1.8 MILLION PEOPLE WORK IN SPORTS IN EUROPE

In 2025, approximately 1.798 million people were employed in the sports sector in the European Union. They accounted for 0.86% of total employment. In other words, fewer than one in every 100 employed persons in the EU had a job directly related to sports.

Who are these people? Well, if you think of athletes, coaches, referees, and instructors, you are right, but besides them, there are also non-sport occupations within the centers andl fitness clubs or sports facilities, such as administrative staff, accountants, or receptionists. At the same time, it also includes sports professionals working outside the core sector, for example, sports instructors employed in schools or other institutions.

Employee profile in sports in the EU:
• 56.3% men, 43.7% women – a relatively balanced sector compared to many others.
• 36% are between 15 and 29 years old – one of the sectors with the youngest employment profile in the EU.

COUNTRIES THAT INVEST IN SPORT

While, in absolute terms, countries such as France, Germany, Spain, and Italy together account for over 60% of all people employed in sport in the EU, a different perspective emerges when we look at the share of people working in sport relative to occupation total:

Absolute terms:
• France – 340,300 people
• Germany – 289,900 people
• Spain – 267,300 people
• Italy – 209,300 people

Reported share of occupation total (%):
• Sweden – 1.59%
• Denmark – 1.30%
• Finland – 1.25%
• Spain – 1.20%

Sweden's, Denmark's and Finland's presence at the top of the rankings highlights the special importance given to sport in Nordic societies. The results are associated with a more developed sports infrastructure, higher population participation, and stronger integration of sports into public services, education, and community life.

SPORT AS A JOB IN ROMANIA

In Romania, in 2025, approximately 17,200 people worked in sports, representing only 0.22% of total employment. By absolute number of employees, Romania ranked 18th in the European Union. However, by the share of sports in total employment, Romania ranked last.

The difference compared to the EU average is very large. The 0.22% share recorded in Romania is almost four times lower than the European average of 0.86%. If Romania had a sports employment intensity similar to the EU average, the number of jobs in this sector could reach approximately 65,000-70,000, instead of just 17,200. This calculation is not a forecast or an automatic target but illustrates the scale of the structural gap.

The results indicate a still limited market for clubs, sports centers, coaches, fitness services, sports management, and related activities. The gap compared to the EU reflects not only lower demand from households but also differences in infrastructure, local funding, activity formalization, and the capacity of sports organizations to create stable jobs.

MANY STUDENTS, FEW JOBS

In 2024, approximately 276,900 students were enrolled in sports-related programs at tertiary education institutions in the European Union. They accounted for about 1.5% of the total European student population.

In Romania, in 2024, There were 8,888 students enrolled in the field of sports. Of these, 6,113 were men and 2,775 were women. Sports students accounted for approximately 1.63% of the total 544,623 students in Romania, a slightly higher share than the European average of around 1.45%.

The report may indicate insufficient professional opportunities, graduates migrating to other fields, emigration, or engaging in informal activities. Some graduates may work in education or administration, without their activity always being fully reflected in the commercial sports sector.

DO ROMANIANS STILL PLAY SPORTS IN THEIR FREE TIME?

Both yes and no 🙂. At the European level, 12.5% of people exercised less than once a week. In Romania, the share reached 22.3%, nearly ten percentage points higher.

Meanwhile, 28.6% of the EU population engaged in physical activity one to three times a week, compared to only 17.6% in Romania. This is one of the most significant differences: far fewer Romanians have a moderate and consistent weekly sports routine.

For activity practiced four to six times a week, the results are almost identical: 12.8% in the EU and 12.7% in Romania. Overall, Romania's main issue does not seem to be a complete lack of physical activity, but rather the absence of a consistent routine. A significant proportion of the population exercises only occasionally, less than once a week. From a public health perspective, the goal should be not only to persuade completely inactive individuals to start exercising but also to turn occasional activity into a regular habit.

THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF SPORT ON SOCIETY

The economic impact of sport can be analyzed from three complementary perspectives: the activity of companies in the sports sector, public administration expenditures, and household consumption. These indicators measure different components and should not be summed directly, but together they show how sport is supported by the private sector, the state, and the population.

COMPANIES ENGAGED IN SPORTS ACTIVITIES
The sports activities category includes event organization, management of sports facilities and venues, club activities, training, coaching, and other related services.

In 2024, there were approximately 210,000 such companies in the European Union. They accounted for approximately 0.6% of all companies in the business sectors and generated a combined turnover of approximately 78 billion euros.

The figures show us a sector dominated by small and micro-enterprises. Many of these are local clubs, gyms, course providers, trainers, or activity organizers with a limited geographical reach.

In Romania, there were 8,804 companies engaged in sports activities in 2024. These represented approximately 0.85% of companies in market sectors, an even higher share than the European average. However, their total turnover was only 386.9 million euros.


THE CONTRIBUTION OF SPORT TO FOREIGN TRADE AND PRODUCTION
Sport contributes to international trade through a very diverse range of products, from footwear, clothing, and fitness equipment to bicycles, skis, fishing gear, and boats for water sports.

In 2025, the EU imported sports goods worth 11 billion euros and the exported 7.2 billion, a deficit of 3.8 billion euros.

• Main suppliers: China (5.2 bn), Vietnam (2.3 bn), Indonesia (0.9 bn)
• Main export destinations: USA (1.4 bn), UK (0.9 bn), Switzerland (0.6 bn)

The EU imports volume (sports shoes, clothing, basic equipment mass-produced in Asia) and exports value (water sports boats, premium equipment, complex products).


ROMANIA'S COMPETITIVE NICHE: SKI EXPORTS
For Romania, the data for 2024 include both trade with other member states and exchanges with countries outside the EU. A first relevant aspect is the very strong orientation towards the single market: 92.6% of Romanian exports of sports goods were destined for other member states. Only 7.4% were destined for markets outside the Union.

Romania is therefore well integrated into European production and distribution chains. This integration provides access to a large market and reduces trade barriers, but it also creates a high dependence on demand from the EU and European distribution channels.

The main category of sports goods exported by Romania was represented by skis and related equipment, with a share of 37% of the value of Romanian exports in this sector. Romania and Austria are the only member states where this category ranks first in the structure of sports exports.

In 2024, Romania had 73 companies manufacturing sports goods. They generated a total turnover of approximately 153 million euros. Romania accounted for about 1.4% of European manufacturers and nearly 2% of the EU industry's turnover.

Specializing in skis and related equipment confirms the existence of a competitive industrial niche. This is connected to production and export chains in Europe.
 

SPORT, AN INVESTMENT WITH DOUBLE DIVIDEND

Sport is a field with simultaneous effects on health, the labor market, consumption, investments, industrial production, and foreign trade. It is precisely this combination that makes it a true "win-win" situation.

For people, regular physical activity helps prevent and manage certain diseases. It reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression, supports cognitive health, and improves overall well-being.

For the economy, sport creates jobs, especially for young people, encourages entrepreneurship, and supports numerous local services. It generates demand for infrastructure, transport, tourism, and events, and stimulates industries such as sports equipment, textiles, footwear, and boat building. At the same time, a more active population can generate long-term savings for the healthcare system and reduce productivity losses associated with illness and inactivity.

Romania has a good university base and certain competitive industrial niches, especially in the production of skis and related equipment. The number of companies engaged in sports activities is also relatively high, but the sector is very fragmented.

At the same time, formal employment in sports accounts for only 0.22% of total employment, the lowest share in the EU. Many Romanians engage in physical activity only occasionally, and the link between university education and professional opportunities in the sector remains weak.

The main opportunity for Romania is turning the interest in sports into a more mature economic ecosystem. This requires accessible infrastructure, recurring programs, school facilities open to communities, professional services, and policies that encourage mass sports, not just performance.

In this way, investing in sports can simultaneously lead to a healthier population, lower medical expenses, higher productivity, and increased economic activity. The social and economic benefits do not exclude each other but rather reinforce one another: more active people mean a healthier society, and a healthier society creates the foundation for a more resilient economy.