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Many Hungarians commute, becoming the largest group of foreign workers in Austria
The number of Hungarian residents working abroad exceeded 122,000 in 2022, accounting for 2.9% of Hungary’s workforce. Austria has become a top destination, with a significant portion of Hungarian commuters finding employment there. In mid-2022, over 130,000 Hungarians were employed in Austria, surpassing Germans to become the largest group of foreign workers in the country. Approximately half of these workers commute daily from Hungary.
According to Növekedés, Hungarians are increasingly flexible when seeking better job opportunities. According to Hungary’s Central Statistical Office (KSH), around 2 million people worked outside their home municipality in 2022, a significant rise from 1.3 million a decade earlier. While most commuters remain within Hungary, many choose cross-border employment, particularly in neighbouring countries.
Popular destinations for Hungarian commuters
Austria is the leading destination for Hungarians working abroad. However, border regions see additional movement:
- Northern towns in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County often send workers to Košice, Slovakia.
- Southeastern areas in Hajdú-Bihar County have many residents commuting to Oradea, Romania.
In some Hungarian border towns, commuters make up as much as 80% of the local workforce. Notably, cross-border commuting is not limited to border regions; in counties like Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok, a significant number of people work abroad.
European trends in cross-border commuting
Hungary’s cross-border commuting figures align with EU trends. According to Eurostat, Slovakia has the highest share of cross-border workers in the EU, at 5%. Estonia, Luxembourg, and Croatia follow, each at 3%. Most commuters work in sectors like manufacturing and construction for men, and healthcare for women.
Internal commuting in Hungary
Budapest remains Hungary’s primary employment hub, attracting workers from all regions, especially from nearby Pest County. However, many city residents also commute to surrounding suburban areas. While Budapest has the largest workforce catchment area—covering 169 settlements—other cities like Miskolc and Pécs also have extensive commuter zones, each encompassing over 100 settlements. Foreign employment is particularly prevalent in Western Hungary, where cross-border opportunities are most accessible. Despite this, Budapest continues to dominate as the domestic employment centre.
Read also:
- Leaving home in hopes of a better life: Here’s how much Hungarians in Austria earn
- Expatriation: Hungarians are flooding into Austria
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