Working in Hungary

The Hungarian economy has opened substantially since the country joined the European Union in 2004. Hungary transitioned from a socialist economy to a market economy in the early 1990s. This meant that many smaller companies were privatised while larger foreign-owned companies opened offices in Hungary, thus promoting more opportunities for expats seeking work in Hungary. This still rings true today.

Job market in Hungary

Hungary's unemployment rate has decreased in recent years, indicating an improvement in the country's job market. Despite the global economic conditions, Hungary's economy remains fairly stable and commercial opportunities abound.

As the largest electronics producer in Central and Eastern Europe, Hungary has plenty to offer for expats in electronics manufacturing and research in particular. Other strong sectors in the country's economy include mining, technology, telecommunications, and IT. There are also opportunities for young and inexperienced expats as English teachers.

The country is also experiencing labour shortages in the construction, healthcare, finance, and service sectors. The country offers job opportunities in both the skilled and unskilled sectors, making it possible for expats to work in Hungary.

Finding a job in Hungary

If you're looking for a job in Hungary, you will need to be thorough in your search and use as many job hunting methods as possible.

The internet is always a good start. Job portals and social networks such as LinkedIn are particularly helpful. That said, jobseekers should be wary of accepting a job offer before meeting their new employer in person. 

If you're already in Hungary, perusing local newspapers' job sections might be fruitful. Although, to understand these, you will either need to be fluent in Hungarian or have someone to translate for them.

Expats may sometimes find that Hungarian companies are reluctant to employ foreigners. This is mainly because of the amount of red tape involved. In this respect, expats from EU countries and Switzerland will have a better chance of finding a job in Hungary because EU citizenship automatically grants them the right to work.

Non-EU, EEA, and Swiss expats will need a residence permit as well as a work permit to work in Hungary legally. Employers are usually responsible for gaining approval from the Labour Office and applying for the work permit. 

If unable to find a Hungarian employer, you may be able to find a job with multinational corporations based in your home country and request to be transferred to Hungary instead.

Visas for Hungary
Work Permits for Hungary

Useful links

• Állásportál
• Profession
• LinkedIn

Work culture in Hungary

The work environment in Hungary is fairly traditional, especially if you're working for a local company. Multinational companies, on the other hand, offer environments similar to those in the USA and Western Europe. The work week is generally 40 hours, and annual leave typically amounts to 21 days.

The work culture in Hungary is largely hierarchical, with much emphasis on respect for seniors and a clear chain of command. You'll be expected to refer to your colleagues and clients using their titles and surname until the relationship becomes more established. 

Hungarians are known for deeply taking pride in their work, so it's not uncommon to see colleagues working extra hours to perfect a product. Relationship building is also an essential part of working and doing business in Hungary, so we recommend taking the time to socialise with colleagues over coffee or lunch. 

Basic knowledge of Hungarian is helpful when negotiating salaries and can put job applicants a step above the rest when applying for jobs in Hungary. Expats working for multinational companies can expect to earn more than their Hungarian counterparts.

Business Culture in Hungary