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Most growth expectations are modest, in the 4–10% range, and Hungarian firms rank as the most optimistic in the region, ahead of Czech and Romanian companies.
The FMCG, services, and life sciences sectors are the most bullish, while the automotive and business services center segments show more restrained outlooks. Business services and IT are again expected to lead headcount expansion.
Labor costs remain the top business challenge (70% cited this factor), followed by rising operating expenses (52%) and demand‑decline risk (48%); only 26% of firms plan hiring, 12% are considering layoffs, and 17% will not replace staff who leave. IT, engineeri ng, and technology roles will be the most sought‑after in 2026, while demand softens for production, logistics, and customer‑service positions. Unrealistically high salary expectations (89%) and a lack of relevant experience (69%) are cited as the main hiring obstacles.
Almost all companies (97%) plan pay increases in 2026, typically in the 6–8% range for both white‑ and blue‑collar workers, though employees expect double‑digit hikes. Attractiveness still hinges on competitive pay and benefits (95%), work–life balance (77%), and flexible work arrangements (70%), with training (79%).
Remote‑work models will remain largely unchanged, Randstad says, with two days per week home office remaining the norm. Meanwhile, AI adoption and related training are expanding steadily across many firms.
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