Labour Market Information: Hungary

National level - Hungary

^{* The years referenced in this report vary, as the data is based on the most up-to-date information available for each indicator, as of December 2024.}

Labour market

As of 1 January 2024, about 9.6 million people lived in Hungary. The gross domestic product per inhabitant was EUR 17 400 in 2022, 50.8% lower than the average of EUR 35 400 per inhabitant in the EU27. Between 2018 and 2022, the GDP per capita increased by 25%.

^{Note: nama_10r_2gdp, Statistics | Eurostat (europa.eu)}

In 2023, more than 4.9 million people were active on the labour market in Hungary. The employment rate was 74.8%, 4.4 percentage points higher than the EU27 average and 5.6 percentage points higher compared to 2018. In 2023, for women, the employment rate was 70.5%, for men, the employment rate was 79%, and for youth, the employment rate was 27.4%, with men and women having rates higher than the EU average and with only youth having a rate lower than the EU average.

^{Note: lfst_r_lfe2emprt, data refer to working age population (15-64), youth age group (15-24)  Statistics | Eurostat (europa.eu)}

In 2023, the unemployment rate was nearly matching the level registered in 2022. In 2023, the unemployment rate returned to the level before the pandemic, when it equalled 3.7% in 2018, and 3.5% in 2019. The unemployment rate is consistently below the EU27 average. In 2023, it was 1.9 percentage points lower in Hungary than in the EU27.

In 2023, 96.6% of the active workforce were from Hungary, 2.1% from other EU Member States and 1.3 from third countries. In the EU27, as of 2023, the highest proportion of the workforce comes from the respective country (85% on average), while on average a smaller portion is from foreign countries (4.3% from other EU Member States, and 10.5% from third countries).

In 2022, most employees worked in manufacturing (24%), followed by wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (18.7%), construction (10.2%) and professional, scientific and technical activities (9.9%). In terms of number of enterprises, most can be found in professional, scientific and technical activities (19.3%), wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (16.2%), and construction (14.6%).

In Hungary, the highest proportion of employees (41.2%) worked in micro companies with up to 9 employees. These companies accounted for the majority of all enterprises in the country (96.2%) with 939 932 of such businesses. 27.4% of persons employed worked in large companies with more than 250 employees, 13.9% of persons employed worked in medium companies with 50 to 249 employees, 9.4% of persons employed worked in small companies with 20 to 49 employees and 8.1% of persons employed worked in small companies with 10 to 19 employees.

Vacancies

In 2024, in Hungary, the occupational groups with the highest occurrence of shortage occupations were: building and related trades workers (excluding electricians), personal service workers and labourers in mining, construction, manufacturing and transport. On the other hand, the occupational groups with the highest occurrence of surplus occupations were food processing, woodworking, garment and other craft and related trades workers, building and related trades workers (excluding electricians) and personal service workers.

Read more about labour shortages and surpluses in Europe: Labour shortages and surpluses in Europe 2023 | European Labour Authority (europa.eu)

Job vacancy rate

Regarding the job vacancy rate (defined as the number of job vacancies expressed as a percentage of the total sum of occupied posts and job vacancies), in 2023 this was 2.4 % in the industry, construction and services, nearly matching the EU27 average. This rate has increased by 0.4 percentage points compared to 2022 and it is still above the situation before 2020, when it stood only at 2.5%.

^{Note: jvs_a_rate_r2, Statistics | Eurostat}

The sectors with the highest vacancy rates were human health and social work activities; education; arts, entertainment and recreation; public administration and defence; compulsory social security; administrative and support services.

^{Note: jvs_a_rate_r2, Statistics | Eurostat}

Widely used job portals

Wages

Minimum wage

As of 1 January 2024, the statutory minimum wage in Hungary was set at 696.97 EUR. Collective bargaining in Hungary is at 21.8%.

Monthly average gross and net earnings

In 2023, the gross average earnings of a single person stood at EUR 1561, while the EU27 average was EUR 3417. The equivalent net wage was EUR 1 038 in Hungary, compared to EUR 2351 in the EU27. Compared to 2018, gross average earnings increased by 45.1% in Hungary and by 19.8% in the EU27. During the same period, the net wages have increased by 45% in Hungary and by 22.1% in the EU27.

^{Note: earn_nt_net, Single person earning 100% average, annual rates transformed into 12 monthly payments. Statistics | Eurostat (europa.eu)}

Trends

Go directly to Expected growing or declining sectors | Platform work | Remote work | Unemployment

Expected growing or declining sectors

Expected growing sectors are renewable energy, car manufacturing industry, pharmaceutical industry and chemical industry, IT and new technology, tourism and HORECA sector, transport and logistics, while traditional agriculture, metallurgy and metal industry expected to face declining.

Platform work

Permanent changes can be noticed in the case of remote working even after the pandemic. Share of remote workers more than doubled and it remained persistently on high level in the past 3 years. Presently 7.5% of persons employed, nearly 350 000 employees work in remote. A hybrid system is likely to emerge in the future, with some combination of remote working and workplace participation in an increasing number of workplaces where this is possible.

Remote work

In 2023, 4.9% of employed persons in Hungary sometimes worked from home, compared to 13.3% in the EU27. Additionally, 3.6% of employed persons in Hungary usually worked from home, while in the EU27 it was 8.9%.

^{Note: lfsa_ehomp, Product - Datasets - Eurostat}

Unemployment (e.g. long-term, youth, female, structural or low-skilled)

Hungary has one of the most dynamic employment growth rates in Europe on the long run. Change in the employment level of the population aged 20-64 between 2010 and 2024 was more than 20%. As a result, of a successful employment turnaround Hungary is now close to the full employment status. The economically active working-age labour force has grown by half a million since 2010. Never before has the Hungarian labour market seen so many people who wanted to work and were actively looking for a job. The employment rate reached its top, the employment rate of the population aged 20-64 is well above the EU average, at over 80%. Hungary belongs to the top field of EU for years in the viewpoint of unemployment.

Budapest

With 1 671 004 inhabitants, Budapest represented about 17.4% of the population in Hungary in 2023.

The gross domestic product per capita, adjusted for price levels (PPS) in Budapest was 102.5% of the EU27 average, well above the national average of 49.2%.

In 2023, more than 927 000 people were active in the labour market in Budapest. 57.1% had tertiary education, 38.9% had secondary education, and 4% had primary education. The employment rate in Budapest was 63.2 % in 2023, 4.5 percentage points higher than the national average in Hungary and in line with 2022 figures.

The employment rate for women in 2023 was 57.9%, men had an employment rate of 69.3%, and for the youth the employment rate was 24.1%. The employment rates for women and men were above the national average, while the employment rate for the youth was below the national average.

^{Note: lfst_r_lfe2emprt, Statistics | Eurostat (europa.eu), data refer to age group 15 years or over}

The unemployment rate in Budapest was 2.3% in 2023, 1.8 points lower than the national average in the same year and in line with the previous year.

^{Note: lfst_r_lfu3rt, Statistics | Eurostat, data refer to age group 15 years or over}

Pest

With 1 328 790 inhabitants, Pest represented about 13.8% of the population in Hungary in 2023.

The gross domestic product per capita, adjusted for price levels (PPS) in Pest was 42.4% of the EU27 average, below the national average of 49.2%.

In 2023, more than 701 000 people were active in the labour market in Pest. 34.1% had tertiary education, 57.6% had secondary education, and 8.3% had primary education. The employment rate in Pest was 61.9 % in 2023, 3.2 percentage points higher than the national average in Hungary and in line with 2022 figures.

The employment rate for women in 2023 was 55.4%, men had an employment rate of 68.8%, and for the youth the employment rate was 24%. The employment rates for women and men were above the national average, while the employment rate for the youth was below the national average.

^{Note: lfst_r_lfe2emprt, Statistics | Eurostat (europa.eu), data refer to age group 15 years or over}

The unemployment rate in Pest was 3.2% in 2023, in line with the national average in the same year and in line with the previous year.

^{Note: lfst_r_lfu3rt, Statistics | Eurostat, data refer to age group 15 years or over}

Central Transdanubia (Közép-Dunántúl)

With 1 059 399 inhabitants, Central Transdanubia represented about 11% of the population in Hungary in 2023.

The gross domestic product per capita, adjusted for price levels (PPS) in Central Transdanubia was 45.8% of the EU27 average, below the national average of 49.2%.

In 2023, more than 546 800 people were active in the labour market in Central Transdanubia. 23.6% had tertiary education, 65.3% had secondary education, and 11.1% had primary education. The employment rate in Central Transdanubia was 60.7 % in 2023, 2 percentage points higher than the national average in Hungary and in line with 2022 figures.

The employment rate for women in 2023 was 54.5%, men had an employment rate of 67.4%, and for the youth the employment rate was 31.6%, all above the national average.

^{Note: lfst_r_lfe2emprt, Statistics | Eurostat (europa.eu), data refer to age group 15 years or over}

The unemployment rate in Central Transdanubia was 2.2% in 2023, 1.9 points lower than the national average in the same year and in line with the previous year.

^{Note: lfst_r_lfu3rt, Statistics | Eurostat, data refer to age group 15 years or over}

West Transdanubia (Nyugat-Dunántúl)

With 982 924 inhabitants, West Transdanubia represented about 10.2% of the population in Hungary in 2023.

The gross domestic product per capita, adjusted for price levels (PPS) in West Transdanubia was 44.1% of the EU27 average, below the national average of 49.2%.

In 2023, more than 508 200 people were active in the labour market in West Transdanubia. 23.4% had tertiary education, 67.7% had secondary education, and 8.9% had primary education. The employment rate in West Transdanubia was 60.1 % in 2023, 1.4 percentage points higher than the national average in Hungary and in line with 2022 figures.

The employment rate for women in 2023 was 53.9%, men had an employment rate of 66.9%, and for the youth the employment rate was 29.6%, all above the national average.

^{Note: lfst_r_lfe2emprt, Statistics | Eurostat (europa.eu), data refer to age group 15 years or over}

The unemployment rate in West Transdanubia was 2.7% in 2023, 1.4 points lower than the national average in the same year and in line with the previous year.

^{Note: lfst_r_lfu3rt, Statistics | Eurostat, data refer to age group 15 years or over}

South Transdanubia (Dél-Dunántúl)

With 858 675 inhabitants, South Transdanubia represented about 8.9% of the population in Hungary in 2023.

The gross domestic product per capita, adjusted for price levels (PPS) in South Transdanubia was 33.9% of the EU27 average, well below the national average of 49.2%.

In 2023, more than 408 000 people were active in the labour market in South Transdanubia. 23.4% had tertiary education, 61.6% had secondary education, and 15% had primary education. The employment rate in South Transdanubia was 53.1 % in 2023, 5.6 percentage points lower than the national average in Hungary and in line with 2022 figures.

The employment rate for women in 2023 was 47%, men had an employment rate of 59.8%, and for the youth the employment rate was 27.3%, all below the national average.

^{Note: lfst_r_lfe2emprt, Statistics | Eurostat (europa.eu), data refer to age group 15 years or over}

The unemployment rate in South Transdanubia was 6% in 2023, 1.9 points higher than the national average in the same year and an increase from 4.6% in the previous year.

^{Note: lfst_r_lfu3rt, Statistics | Eurostat, data refer to age group 15 years or over}

Northern Hungary (Észak-Magyarország)

With 1 093 790 inhabitants, Northern Hungary represented about 11.4% of the population in Hungary in 2023.

The gross domestic product per capita, adjusted for price levels (PPS) in Northern Hungary was 32.2% of the EU27 average, well below the national average of 49.2%.

In 2023, more than 524 900 people were active in the labour market in Northern Hungary. 21.7% had tertiary education, 62.4% had secondary education, and 15.9% had primary education. The employment rate in Northern Hungary was 54.5 % in 2023, 4.2 percentage points lower than the national average in Hungary and in line with 2022 figures.

The employment rate for women in 2023 was 46.7%, men had an employment rate of 62.9%, and for the youth the employment rate was 29.6%. The employment rates for women and men were below the national average, while the employment rate for the youth was above the national average.

^{Note: lfst_r_lfe2emprt, Statistics | Eurostat (europa.eu), data refer to age group 15 years or over}

The unemployment rate in Northern Hungary was 6.4% in 2023, 2.3 points higher than the national average in the same year and in line with the previous year.

^{Note: lfst_r_lfu3rt, Statistics | Eurostat, data refer to age group 15 years or over}

North Great Plain (Észak-Alföld)

With 1 405 012 inhabitants, North Great Plain represented about 14.6% of the population in Hungary in 2023.

The gross domestic product per capita, adjusted for price levels (PPS) in North Great Plain was 32.2% of the EU27 average, well below the national average of 49.2%.

In 2023, more than 705 000 people were active in the labour market in North Great Plain. 22.6% had tertiary education, 61.7% had secondary education, and 15.7% had primary education. The employment rate in North Great Plain was 56.8 % in 2023, 1.9 percentage points lower than the national average in Hungary and in line with 2022 figures.

The employment rate for women in 2023 was 49.5%, men had an employment rate of 64.7%, and for the youth the employment rate was 30.2%. The employment rates for women and men were below the national average, while the employment rate for the youth was above the national average.

^{Note: lfst_r_lfe2emprt, Statistics | Eurostat (europa.eu), data refer to age group 15 years or over}

The unemployment rate in North Great Plain was 6.7% in 2023, 2.6 points higher than the national average in the same year and in line with the previous year.

^{Note: lfst_r_lfu3rt, Statistics | Eurostat, data refer to age group 15 years or over}