Hungarian workers quit in droves to work in Austria
Never before have so many Hungarians worked across the border. Labour emigration is a serious problem for the economy of Western Hungary. Another trend shows that labour is coming from Kazakhstan and the Philippines because Hungarians do not want to work three shifts.
Hungarians working in Austria
“You know it’s not that complicated. We go to Austria to work for security, and security is mostly about money,” a worker in Austria told nyugat.hu.
According to most statistics, Western Hungary is the most developed in the country after Budapest. Low unemployment, above average salaries. More than 20,000 Hungarians work in Vienna. According to the latest statistics, more than 115,000 Hungarians work in Austria. However, Austria’s proximity is not only a blessing but also a curse.
Western Hungary is suffering from a chronic labour shortage. The pay gap makes it difficult for Hungarian companies to compete. The weakening of the forint exchange rate makes this even worse. Western Hungary, which relies on tourism and hospitality, is facing serious problems. For decades, loyal workers have been quitting and going to work in Austria.
Apart from the hospitality sector, the construction and beauty sectors are the most popular among Hungarians.
Read alsoHungarian workers quit in droves to work in Austria
Workers arrive in Hungary from Kazakhstan and the Philippines
Labour shortages are also a problem in other areas of Hungary. Ottó Sinkó, co-CEO of Videoton Holding Zrt., said that this year they are already receiving help from 50 Ukrainian workers.
“There is a very strong labour shortage in this industry, we also bring in labour from Kazakhstan and the Philippines by plane,” Attila Szincsák, vice-president of Denso Gyártó Magyarország Kft. told portfolio.hu.
“Today in Hungary, Hungarians don’t want to work in the engineering industry, in three shifts. It’s not by chance that we were looking for foreign workers,” Sinkó said.
Supply and demand are not balanced anywhere in the world today. A recession could reduce labour market problems.