Last year, Hungarian authorities issued work permits to about 11,000 non-EU nationals, state secretary for labour policy Sándor Bodó said in January. 

Full-year data for 2018 on employment of non-EU nationals has not yet been released by the National Employment Office (NFSZ). NFSZ data for 2017 show work permits were issued for 9,274 non-EU nationals.

While the official data by NFSZ is not available, according to our earlier report some 11,000 work permits for non-EU nationals were issued last year. That information was based on a response to a query by an opposition MP posted on the website of Parliament.

Bodó noted that nationals from non-EU countries may fill positions in Hungary only if those jobs cannot be done by Hungarians or citizens of other EU member states. The local labor market is protected by a quota on such workers which businesses are far from utilizing to the full extent, he added.