Half of Hungarian workers have changed careers at least once, while four in ten now work in a completely different field from where they started. New research reveals which sectors workers are most likely to leave and what is driving Hungarians to seek new career paths.
A new representative survey of Hungarian workers found that 54% of career changers would have stayed in their previous profession for a higher salary, while 40% said better management and a more positive workplace atmosphere could have persuaded them to stay, according to a study published by Profession.hu.
The research found that half of respondents had changed careers at least once, with 40% now working in an entirely different field and industry from where they originally started. A further 30% had seriously considered changing careers but ultimately decided against it. Only one in five workers said they had never considered such a move.
Higher salaries are becoming increasingly important for career changers
One of the survey’s main findings is that financial considerations have become more influential in career decisions over recent years.
In 2022, 42% of career changers said they would have stayed in their previous profession if they had been offered a higher salary. By 2026, that figure had risen to 54%.
According to Blanka Dencső, market research and business development expert at Profession.hu, salary remains a decisive factor in job and career changes across all generations.
However, money is not the only factor. Better management and workplace conditions could have persuaded 40% of career changers to remain in their former profession, while 30% cited greater professional recognition.
Related: How to find a job in Hungary in 2026: Salaries, job sites and what foreigners need to know
Which sectors are Hungarian workers most likely to leave?
The survey identified significant differences between industries. IT and technology, healthcare and social care, and manufacturing tend to retain professionals relatively well. Although employees in these sectors may change positions, they are less likely to leave their industry altogether.
By contrast, workers in finance and insurance, agriculture, hospitality and tourism are more likely to move into an entirely different sector.
According to Profession.hu, hospitality and tourism have consistently ranked among the three sectors experiencing the largest declines in job advertisements over the past year.
Besides the shrinking number of vacancies, pay may also be an important consideration. According to figures updated by the Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH) in September, accommodation and food service activities had the lowest average earnings in Hungary in July 2026.
How long does it take to find a new job in Hungary?
One of the biggest questions for anyone considering a career change is how long it might take to secure a new position. Profession.hu examined the time between starting a job search and taking up a new position, meanwhile KSH measured how long people who were still unemployed at the time of its survey had already been looking for work.
According to the Profession.hu survey published in March , the average time between beginning a job search and starting a new position had fallen to three months and 22 days, compared with slightly more than five months a year earlier.
However, the KSH’s latest figures, paint a more challenging picture for unemployed jobseekers.
Between May and July 2026, unemployed people in Hungary had been looking for work for an average of 12 months. Furthermore, 34.7% had been searching for more than a year, an increase of 5.5 percentage points compared with the same period a year earlier. The figures illustrate how differently job searches can unfold for people moving between positions and those who remain unemployed.
Rising costs and economic uncertainty are also driving career changes
Changing careers is not always simply about finding better opportunities. The broader economic environment can also influence workers’ decisions.
Therefore ising prices, inflation and economic uncertainty played a role in the decisions of 36% of career changers. Profession’s research also found that career changes were particularly common among workers with secondary-level qualifications and those living in smaller settlements. Among these groups, 56% and 60%, respectively, had changed careers at least once.
The findings suggest that changing careers is increasingly about adapting to shifting economic and labour market conditions, rather than simply pursuing a new professional direction.
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