Surge of guest workers in Hungary: where are they coming from and why?
Hungary is witnessing a historic surge in the number of guest workers, with new figures revealing a dramatic shift in the origins of its migrant labour force. While the domestic employment market has cooled, the influx of workers from non-EU countries, particularly from Asia, has reached unprecedented levels, even as the number of employees from neighbouring countries continues to dwindle.
Asian guest workers overtake regional migrants
As Portfolio writes, according to the latest data from Hungary’s Central Statistical Office (KSH), the number of foreign employees in Hungary rose by 6,800 in 2024, reaching a record 102,200. This growth is almost entirely driven by an increase in workers from third countries (outside the EU), as the country’s wage advantage over its neighbours has eroded.
The largest group of new arrivals came from the Philippines, with 3,200 additional workers in the past year, closely followed by a similar increase from Vietnam. The number of Indian, Chinese, Turkish, and Russian workers also grew, while the number of Serbian and Romanian employees continued to decline. Notably, the number of Ukrainian workers dropped the most, yet they still represent the largest single group of foreign employees, around 20,000 people.
According to SchengenNews, the latest figures show that there are now more workers from the Philippines and Vietnam in Hungary than from Slovakia or Romania, a reversal of previous trends. This marks a significant demographic shift: Hungary’s labour market is now more attractive to workers from distant Asian countries than to those from the region.
Changing motivations and sectors
The influx of Asian workers is largely attributed to labour shortages and Hungary’s streamlined recruitment processes for third-country nationals. While Hungary’s wage levels are no longer competitive for workers from neighbouring countries, they remain attractive for those from Southeast Asia and beyond.
Guest workers are primarily employed through labour leasing agencies and in the manufacturing sector, which together account for nearly half of all foreign employees. The manufacturing sector alone absorbed 2,600 additional guest workers in the past year, representing almost 40% of the total increase. Other sectors seeing significant growth include hospitality, retail, and logistics.
Regional workers look west
The decline in workers from Ukraine, Slovakia, and Romania is part of a broader trend: many Eastern and Central European workers now prefer opportunities in Western Europe, where wages and working conditions are more favourable. Hungary, once a key destination for regional migrants, has lost much of its wage-based appeal over the past decade.
This shift in Hungary mirrors a wider European trend. Many Central and Eastern European countries are turning to Asia to fill labour shortages, as workers from neighbouring states increasingly seek employment further west. For example, Poland and the Czech Republic have also reported a sharp rise in Filipino and Vietnamese workers in recent years, as local labour pools shrink and EU migration patterns evolve.
Read more news about guest workers in Hungary HERE.
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