No stopping: Hungarians on the brink of overtaking Germans as largest foreign working group in Austria

In recent years, Austria has witnessed a significant influx of Hungarian workers, with their numbers steadily increasing to the point where they are now on the cusp of surpassing Germans as the largest foreign working group in the country. As of January 2025, a total of 129,802 Hungarian citizens were employed in Austria, marking a substantial rise from the previous month and continuing a trend that has been observed over the past few years.

This surge in Hungarian workers is part of a broader pattern where foreign labour has become increasingly crucial to Austria’s economy. The country’s domestic workforce has been declining, with a notable drop in the number of Austrian citizens employed. In January 2025, there were 2,888,878 Austrian workers, down from the previous year’s figure, Privátbankár reports. Due to this decline, Austria’s reliance on international labour is growing, particularly in healthcare and retail.

Hungarians in Austria: an ever-growing number

The Hungarian workforce in Austria has shown remarkable resilience and growth. In January 2024, there were 124,820 Hungarian workers, which increased to a peak of 131,948 by July of the same year. Although the numbers dipped slightly during the autumn months, they rebounded by the end of the year, reaching 127,209 in December and further increasing to 129,802 in January 2025.

This fluctuation aligns with seasonal patterns, where employment tends to be higher during the winter and summer tourist seasons.

In comparison, the number of German workers in Austria, while slightly higher at 131,405 in January 2025, is not as significant when considering the population size of Germany. Other notable groups include Romanians, with 108,320 workers, and Slovaks, with 48,910.

Hungarian workers important to Austrian labour market

The trend of increasing foreign labour in Austria is expected to continue due to demographic challenges, including an ageing population and a projected shortage of skilled workers. The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (WIIW) predicts significant labour shortages by the 2030s, particularly in technical fields and among higher-educated workers. As a result, the role of foreign workers, especially Hungarians, will likely become even more critical in sustaining Austria’s economic growth.

Read also:

• End of Schengen Zone at the Hungarian-Austrian border? Locals protested
• Is life better on the other side of the border? New data on the number of Hungarians in Austria

Featured image: depositphotos.com