Simultaneously, the average net monthly wage expectations of those seeking physical labor jobs have risen by 8.47% over the past year.
Nearly half (41%) of the adult Hungarian population is currently actively seeking a job or has been in the past two years; more than two-thirds of them (38%) are looking for physical labor positions. The demand for such roles has fluctuated visibly over the years.
Starting from early 2019, there was a growing demand for new skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled workers, resulting in a labor shortage in this area due to intensive recruitment. However, this trend has eased this year, and by early autumn, it has reversed.
According to data from Profession.hu, in the third quarter of 2024, there was a 15.9% increase in applications for job ads seeking physical workers compared to the same period last year. At the same time, the number of job postings targeting them decreased by 2.4%, meaning that there were 13.5% more applicants for each advertised position on average.
Looking at demand and supply by specific fields, the most significant demand for new workers in the third quarter of 2024 was in the categories of shop assistants, cashiers, semi-skilled workers, and material handling/loading. The largest increase compared to the same period last year was seen in the field of HVAC installation, where 115% more job ads were posted within one year.
In terms of location, opportunities for those seeking such jobs have narrowed, especially in Nógrád County (where 32.8% fewer ads were posted compared to this time last year), as well as in Győr-Moson-Sopron (-18.5%) and Veszprém Counties (-17.6%). However, there were areas where the number of open positions in this category grew: in Tolna County by 16.2%, Hajdú-Bihar by 12.9%, and Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg by 6.6%.
For the vast majority of Hungarians (83%), salary is the most important factor when choosing a job. In this regard, it can be said that among skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled workers actively seeking jobs that match their experience, the average net monthly wage expectation is HUF 301,560, which has increased by 8.47% since last year.
The most significant increase in wage expectations was seen in the kitchen work subcategory (rising by 66.9% to HUF 452,000), followed by the nursing and healthcare skilled labor subcategory (a 42.65% increase to HUF 476,000), and then other physical labor (a 21.75% increase to HUF 342,000).
In terms of wage expectations, bricklayers top the list with a monthly net wage expectation of HUF 512,000, followed by chefs (HUF 506,000) and then painters/decorators (HUF 498,000).
After salary, the second most important factor for job seekers is the location of the workplace. For those performing physical labor, this criterion is less frequently met than the national average: nearly every second worker (47%) commutes between their home and workplace, which is most typical in the manufacturing and production (59%) and hospitality, hotel, and tourism (52%) sectors.
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