Sándor Czomba noted that the employment rate stood at 81.1% in 2024, well over the 75.8% European Union average.
Achieving the target will require mobilizing labor market reserves, he said. He pointed to the 300,000 Hungarians who were registered or inactive jobseekers and capable of working, but said 150,000 of those people were “a long way from the labour market” due to health, social, or mental problems, while 100,000 people faced mobility challenges.
He acknowledged the presence of around 132,000 foreign workers in Hungary, 2-3pc of the total employed, and said that labour was necessary to ensure workplaces stayed in Hungary.
Czomba said the government planned to extend the eligibility period for streamlined employment to 120 days from July 1, while extending the period for seasonal farm labourers by 90 days from the 120 at present starting January 1, 2026.
He said that HUF 460 billion of EU funding had been allocated for labor market schemes to help jobseekers find work and improve their mobility.
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