Private sector could add 70,000 jobs in 2016, says official

Budapest, June 18 (MTI) – Private sector employment could increase by 60-70,000 jobs next year, the state secretary in charge of employment told daily Magyar Hirlap in an interview on Thursday.

The labour market has been on an upswing since the second half of 2013, most of the new jobs coming from the private sector rather than offered through the government’s public work scheme, Sandor Czomba said. Most of the growth in employment occurred in the processing industry, tourism, construction and agriculture, he said.

Czomba said if the job market could maintain its momentum over the coming years, the government would not have to provide welfare services for up to 500,000 people or employ as many fostered workers by 2018.

The state secretary noted that fostered work schemes would be earmarked 340 billion forints in next year’s budget compared to the 270 billion forints allocated to the programme in 2015, thus ensuring public employment for 300,000 people.

Czomba said the government plans to boost its rental housing programme in regions of labour shortage, but said the “real solution” is to create jobs where labour supply is high.

Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters