Currently, around 100,000 guest workers are employed in Hungary, and their number continues to rise. Due to labour shortages, their presence has become significant across several sectors.
The majority of foreign workers come from Ukraine and various Asian countries. József Nógrádi, Commercial Director at Trenkwalder, told Infostart that between 2016 and 2019, there was a 40 per cent increase in the number of Ukrainian workers, while from 2020 onwards, the number of employees arriving from Asian countries—mainly India and Vietnam—began to grow rapidly.
A surge in Asian guest workers
According to the expert, the most recent change occurred in 2020, when a larger number of workers began to arrive from Asia—especially from India and Vietnam. This was aided by the “2+1” year permit policy introduced by the government, which allowed guest workers in shortage occupations to initially receive a two-year residency permit, extendable by an additional year.
“Last year, 133,000 foreign workers passed through Hungary, which may seem high at first glance, but in total, 255,000 foreigners were residing in the country in 2024 under 24 different legal categories,” said József Nógrádi.
The latest wave of growth was primarily driven by Indian and Vietnamese guest workers. Later, larger numbers of South Korean and Turkish employees arrived as well, particularly in relation to major investment projects.
Multiple routes for foreign labour to enter Hungary
According to a report by Telex in March, based on NFSZ data, most guest workers arrived from Vietnam, with over 16,900 valid work permits. They were followed by workers from the Philippines (11,210) and India (7,288). Significant numbers are also present from South Korea, China, Mongolia, and Kyrgyzstan. Turkey, Russia, and Thailand also made it into the top ten, reflecting how diverse the foreign labour pool has become in Hungary in recent years.
The majority of guest workers arriving in Hungary find employment in industry and construction, primarily in semi-skilled roles. Photo: Pix4free
József Nógrádi also highlighted that many workers do not come to Hungary as job seekers:
Many employees are brought in directly by investing companies to work in their local factories.
Others are assigned to domestic firms via certified labour leasing agencies.
Some are employed by companies under strategic partnerships or government contracts.
Many foreign students also take up part-time jobs alongside their studies to support themselves.
The Commercial Director at Trenkwalder also mentioned the introduction of the national card, originally designed to facilitate employment for Ukrainians and Serbians—particularly ethnic Hungarians living beyond the country’s borders. Over time, eligibility was expanded, allowing citizens from eight countries, including Russia and Belarus, to apply.
Which jobs are off-limits to guest workers?
The conditions for employing guest workers vary significantly depending on the nature of the job. For example, Hungarian language proficiency is not required for semi-skilled roles. However, the government imposes quotas on the employment of foreign workers.
According to József Nógrádi, there are roughly 500 job roles in Hungary that cannot be filled by foreign nationals.
Classic skilled trades such as electricians, welders, or forklift drivers are not open to guest workers, nor are intellectual roles like accountants, administrative clerks, or maths teachers. The aim of these restrictions is to ensure that Hungarian citizens have priority access to these positions.
By way of comparison, Nógrádi noted that while Hungary employs around 100,000 guest workers, Austria and the Czech Republic employ nearly ten times that number. For example in the Czech labour market alone, there are approximately 650,000 Ukrainian employees. In recent years, that country too has seen a growing influx of Vietnamese and other Asian workers.
International data clearly show that countries in the region are moving in a similar direction, albeit at different speeds: foreign labour is playing an increasingly vital role in sustaining economies, and Hungary cannot sidestep this trend.
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