Hungarians work more than most Europeans, yet earn significantly less
Hungarian employees work the third highest number of hours per year in the European Union, while wages and leisure time still remain below the EU average.
Working longer than the EU average
According to Eurofound’s 2024 report, Hungarian workers put in an average of 1,832 hours per year, ranking behind only Estonia (1,848) and Slovakia (1,840).
The EU average is 1,722 hours, meaning a Hungarian employee works more than a hundred hours a year longer than a Western European colleague — roughly two and a half weeks of additional work.
At the bottom of the list are the French, who work just 1,575 hours annually, thanks to collective agreements and the 35-hour workweek. They are followed by the Danes and Germans, who also spend fewer than 1,700 hours a year at work.
Long hours in Eastern Europe
In Central and Eastern Europe, collective wage agreements have little influence on working hours. In many places, the legal maximum — 40 to 48 hours a week — is considered the norm. Flexible or part-time employment is rare, and overtime is a daily reality.
Workers often do not stay longer by choice: they cite tight deadlines, staff shortages, and the need for extra pay as reasons. The Eurofound data takes into account holidays and paid leave.
When it comes to employee rights, significant differences remain across the EU. While in France or Germany workers are entitled to 25–30 days of paid vacation, in Hungary the legal minimum is 20 days, with only a few extra days granted based on age. This not only shortens rest periods but also undermines work–life balance in the long run.
The effect of the Hungarian work culture
Longer hours do not necessarily lead to greater prosperity. Many Hungarians feel that despite working long weeks and weekends, their pay does not reflect their effort. Overtime is often not an option but a condition for survival — especially in industrial and service sectors where staff shortages force workers to bear the system’s burden.
While work–life balance has become a major topic in Western Europe, in Hungary it is rarely discussed. The culture of “always on” work remains dominant.
According to the Randstad Workmonitor 2024, 93% of Hungarian employees say work–life balance is just as important to them as salary, and 83% expect flexible working hours.
Yet little improvement is visible in workplace conditions, and the long-term effects are increasingly clear: fatigue, burnout, and migration are all signs of a system built on constant pressure rather than employee well-being.
The extended working hours mean less rest, while wages still fail to reflect the effort invested. According to Eurostat, the average hourly labor cost in Hungary was EUR 14.1 in 2024, compared with the EU average of EUR 33.5.
On average, Hungarians work more than most Europeans — but earn significantly less.
Featured image: depositphotos.com
clear signs of inefficiency
Also the low productivity and low value added nature of the work that many Hungarians perform. Hungary remains a destination for low paid manual jobs that are economically unviable in the west. It has historically been cheaper to employ Hungarians than to invest in the automation (and more recently the AI) to supplant these jobs compared to setting up in Hungary but that may change in the near future, retaining typically low wages for the employed but also rising unemployment to boot.
Yes, but we also pay much less for gasoline, utilities, transportation, and yes, food. Just today, in Spar, I bought a giant sack of potatoes, several packs of chicken breasts and ground beef, a few slabs of Parmesan cheese, grapes, bread and pastries, and some snacks: The total was less than $40. Show me another European country whose salaries you’re comparing to Hungarians’ where you can get out of the store with all that for less than at least double. Or where you pay $20 for electric for a two-bedroom apartment.
Give me a break.
Please excuse Steiner because he still live in 2017!!.
For example Denmark and The Netherlands pay few cents more than Hungary while getting at least 3-5 times salary!
Just go to any neighboring country and make the same shopping, compare it to the salary/quality and let us know again your Naive as usual opinion.
Please give us a break!
Quite a few European countries pay the same level or less than Hungary for food in Europe. Spain has exactly same level and Netherlands only a little higher. Several countries pay less, e.g. Poland, Slovakia and Romania.
Price level index for food and non-alcoholic beverages, 2024
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Comparative_price_levels_for_food,_beverages_and_tobacco
I hope our economy will soon catch up with the rest of the Europe with a new government next year.
@michaelsteiner – toss in some fruit and vegetables, not just (mainly) the price capped stuff? Curious as to what you come out at, then!
Except the elite and those who have successful businesses everyone is struggling in Hungary. Outside of real estate there isn’t much difference in prices there and where I live in Canada. Just got back a few days ago. What glorious fall weather we had in Hungary.
My relatives in Hungary always seem to be going to exotic places esp with seniors being so highly subisdised and younger family benefiting from that subsidy when they travel with. And sending photos of huge tables laden w. booze, even smokes and meat dishes from regular backyard weekend meals. Or from spas.
Rarely did I work less than a 50 hr week since there was always stuff to bring home…and then to get ahead, ran side businesses on weekends & during all holidays except every 3 yrs when during the 2 week vacation I got in August ( a take it or leave it time slot we all had to ‘choose’) when I drove over 1,500 miles to visit my parents so kids would know grandparents. And in-laws. No one in Canada will claim that one can get ahead if working less than 60 hrs week. My own adult daughters included. So really all of Europe seems to be living the dream. And that part time work is not a common thing, how fortunate Hungarians are cus many jobs here offer mostly those so that no benefits must be paid for by employers. Problem is, 2 jobs of the average part time hours means way more spent on uniforms, travel costs, child care etc and still really need the 3rd to just be even with fulltime workers. So many ppl I know drive Uber or similar side husstles late nights, weeknends, holidays…or deliver for businesses. MISERABLE in our horrible long winters of ice/snow to scrape repeatedly from job to job..so few places have public transportation. Certainly not where I live so taxi costs add up out of low pay…When a 2 Liter box of milk is over $9.00 and loaf of bread is at least $5… the $15.00 wage is nothing here in rural NS.
What I’m seeing is that the system is broken in way too many places thanks to globetrotting politicians who spend on lunch what my neighbour as a care nurse earns in a regular 12 hr shift. And they are not ashamed.
De belastingen zijn dan ook astronomisch hoog in Belgie 62% van het inkomen en mijn vrouw zit er even terug onder de 150€ heb je niks in je winkel kar ,Op de lonen en zelfs je pensioen betaal je 58% belasting dat is het verschil , De reden dat de onverkozen EU maffia Orban viseerd is dat hij hun hielen niet likt !!!Dat Hongarije zijn forint maar houd , de euro en europa staat op instorten ,en nu willen ze iedereen betrekken in een oorlog !!
What is your definition of work ???
Next to family- in many its biggest enjoyment and most rewarding part of life. This is especially true n the US. Could be the reason it is so far ahead of europe. That happens at many levels of work- a few days at beach and many can’t wait to get back to what they enjoy best.
These silly poles you give such credibility as news are good for a bit humor and a break from the daily wizz.