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Although eight out of 10 Hungarians are basically satisfied with their current job, the possibility of working abroad continues to occupy many workers. However, the share of those who would be open to taking a job in another country has declined compared with the same period last year.
While the idea of foreign employment may be attractive to many, far fewer people actually get as far as moving abroad. According to the survey, the share of those considering working abroad remains high, while the number of those who actually take a job in another country has not changed materially over the past year.
Based on the research by Hungary’s leading jobs portal, 88% of Hungarian employees have not worked abroad so far, but 39% would be open to doing so. This is lower than in the same period of 2025, when half of respondents said they would be open to working abroad. The data show significant differences between age groups.
“The desire to move abroad decreases with age. Younger employees are the most motivated in this respect, as for them this is often not only a financial issue, but they are also strongly motivated by gaining experience. Six out of 10 members of Generation Z would move to another country if they received a good job offer. In line with the general trend, however, openness to this has also declined somewhat among them: last year, seven out of 10 young respondents said this. Budapest residents are also more open than average in this respect: more than half of them could imagine working in another country,” said Blanka Dencső, market research and business development expert at Profession.hu.
Most employees open to working abroad, 89%, continue to think primarily in terms of nearby destination countries, mainly imagining their future in Europe. North America, named by 35%, and Australia, cited by 32%, are also popular.
Within Europe, German-speaking countries remain the most attractive destinations. Austria was selected by 64% of respondents, Switzerland by 49%, and Germany by 46%.
Among those who have not yet worked abroad, 31% cited language barriers as the reason. A similar share, 32%, mentioned family reasons, while 24% named fear of uncertainty as a significant deterrent.
One-fifth of respondents feel it is better for them to live and work in Hungary, while a similar share said their circle of friends or the characteristics of their profession tie them to the country.
For those who would be open to foreign employment but have never worked in another country, employer support would make the process significantly easier.
Nearly three-quarters of them, or 73%, said housing support would be the biggest help. Six out of 10 respondents said assistance with visa and work permit administration would be important, while almost as many, 57%, highlighted the need for language learning opportunities and training.
The results suggest that for those open to working abroad, the main obstacle is not necessarily the work itself, but the practical difficulties connected with moving and settling down. Half of respondents said it would be especially important to have an adequate onboarding program after relocation.
Among those without work experience abroad, 41% have a family member, close friend or acquaintance working in another country. For six out of 10 of them, however, this does not encourage them to follow.
Respondents tend to associate positive feelings with acquaintances who move abroad: 56% said they are happy for them, while 17% said they would even join their relative or acquaintance.
However, negative emotions may also appear in connection with such moves: 21% said they feel sadness, 9% envy, and 6% regret.
The survey results show that working abroad remains a realistic alternative for a significant share of Hungarian employees, although openness to this has moderated compared with last year. Decisions are influenced mainly by life situation, family ties and practical obstacles.
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