The number of registered jobseekers in Hungary stood at 225,994 in February 2026, according to data from the National Employment Service. This represents a decrease of more than 6,000 compared with the same period last year and a decline of roughly 430,000 compared with 2010, the government said.
In a statement, State Secretary for Employment Policy at the Ministry for National Economy Sándor Czomba said the relatively low number of registered jobseekers also reflects demographic trends. According to him, the shrinking working-age population is playing a major role in shaping current employment figures.
He added that in international comparison, Hungary’s employment level remains high while the unemployment rate continues to stay low.
The state secretary also emphasized that the government is supporting jobseekers through several programmes aimed at helping them find work more quickly. One such initiative is the Youth Guarantee Plus programme, which is co-financed by the European Union and has already helped around 28,000 young people enter the labour market.
From February, the programme has been expanded: the maximum wage subsidy has been raised from a gross 300,000 forints to 350,000 forints, while stronger mentoring support has been introduced to help young employees remain in the labour market.
Domestic mobility support schemes have also been relaunched from February, this time available for nine months instead of the previous six. Under the Travel Support 2026 programme, assistance is available for commuting distances above ten kilometres, up to 60 kilometres. For every additional ten kilometres, eligible workers can receive support equal to 5 per cent of the minimum wage, currently 16,140 forints.
The upper limit for commuting distance has also been extended to 100 kilometres. For distances between 60 and 100 kilometres, a monthly travel subsidy of up to 80,700 forints can be claimed.
Another measure, the Housing Support 2026 programme, provides assistance for accommodation costs when the distance between a worker’s home and workplace exceeds 30 kilometres, or when travel time is particularly long. In such cases, support for rent or workers’ hostel accommodation can reach up to 225,960 forints per month.
The government is also relaunching the programme called From Public Employment to the Private Sector, which has previously helped more than 20,000 public workers move into jobs in the competitive sector. The initiative aims to encourage motivated and qualified participants in public employment to find positions in the private labour market.
Under the scheme, public workers who secure employment before the end of their public employment contract can receive a placement allowance of 45,600 forints. This support is paid for the period during which their public employment would otherwise have continued. In addition, those taking part in seasonal agricultural work are eligible for a daily placement allowance of 2,000 forints.
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