About one in ten Europeans (11 percent) admit to have bought goods or services that involved undeclared work, while 4 percent admit that they have done undeclared work themselves in the previous year, according to a recent Eurobarometer study.

The survey shows that the undeclared work remains widespread in Europe, but the extent and perception of the problem varies between countries.

Some 60 percent of the Europeans mention the lower price as a reason for purchasing goods or services that might involve undeclared work, while around one in five (22 percent) said it was a favor amongst friends.

The most common reason half of them give for doing undeclared work is that it benefited both parties, shows the survey. The other main reasons are: they couldn’t find a regular job (21 percent), tax or social contribution are too high (16 percent), or they have no other means of income (15 percent).

Those in Southern Europe are particularly likely to mention the difficulty of finding a regular job (41 percent) or having no other source of income (26 percent) as reasons for doing undeclared work.

The average amount Europeans spent in the last year on goods or services involving undeclared work is EUR 200.

One in three Europeans know someone who carries out undeclared work. The countries where respondents are most likely to say that they know someone who carries out undeclared work are Denmark (59 percent), the Netherlands (55 percent), Greece (54 percent), Slovenia (48 percent) and Latvia (46 percent). Romania is among countries where respondents are least likely to know anyone doing undeclared work, with 20 percent, followed by UK - 15 percent.

Europeans are most likely to have purchased goods or services which may have included undeclared work for home repairs or renovations (29 percent) and car repairs (22 percent), followed by home cleaning (15 percent) and food (12 percent).

They are most likely to have carried out undeclared work in the area of repairs and renovation (19 percent), followed by gardening (14 percent), cleaning (13 percent), babysitting (12 percent) and working as waiting staff (11 percent).

Find the entire Eurobarometer survey here.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com