More Hungarians working in Austria than ever
In July 2022, the number of Hungarian workers in Austria has set a new record, with more than 114,000 registered people. However, the number of foreign workers in the country has oddly fallen.
In the last month in Austria, they recorded a minor decrease in overall foreign workers (121 less than a month before). This month, fewer workers came from Central- and Eastern-European countries such as Poland, Serbia and Turkey, with Romania showing the greatest decrease (2,362 fewer people than last month). On the other hand, the number of Hungarian and Ukrainian workers kept rising, with about 1,000 each since June. In the last year, the number of Hungarians working in Austria grew by 7,894. While most of the workers from Balkan, Central- and Eastern-European countries are slowly leaving the Austrian labour market, both Asia and Africa showed an increasing number of foreign workforce. This might be the start of the progress of these two emerging continents driving out the current foreign workforce.
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Effect of the pandemic on foreigners working in Austria
If we look at recent trends regarding the Hungarian workforce, we can see that at the start of the epidemic the numbers dropped rapidly. It could be due to the fact that the majority of Hungarians are seasonal workers, hired by ski resorts, restaurants and hotels. These facilities were forced to temporarily close down during the pandemic. This also explains why the usually busy summer and winter months, the peaks of tourism in Austria, were somewhat less saturated. The next wave of the virus will affect the labour market again.
Ski resort, photo: Pixabay
The effects will depend on the intensity and the measures taken by the Austrian government. The next measures are expected during autumn, in connection with the start of the winter semester in schools and universities. In Austria, the restrictions are quite severe, for example, hospital visits are only allowed with negative PCR tests. A new increase in the number of infected might lead to actions that affect the hospitality industry. That would limit the jobs available for foreign seasonal workers, but widespread vaccination can lessen this threat.
Excluding the commuter workers, 94,000 (including workers, students, and retirees) Hungarian citizens live in Austria, writes ORF. The Hungarian Academy of Sciences has been conducting a series of research to find the reason behind this phenomenon, using surveys to figure out the motive of people who decide to move abroad.
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Source: Privátbankár
2 Comments
Post February 2020 – numbers of articals in DNH and “other” media “modes” of public communication, that has touched on this subject – the Austrian “move” or relocation.
It does appear – across number of professions especially Hospitality – that rates of pay per hour are substantially higher.
More job opportunities ?
Cost of living – accommadation – over-all higher than Budapest – my opinion.
Career opportunities – “broadsheet” – greater possibilities in Austria and higher leval of pay and “additions” to employment contracts ?
Would be of INTEREST to interview say 15 of these people – image they would be of similar age male & female – from different “Stations in Life” in Hungary and Educational backgrounds – and EXTRACT out of them, the one defining MAJOR reason – WHY – they have left Hungary.
They would ALL have reasons – BUT – their has to be a COMMON reason, which would be of Interest.
This trend post February 2020 in particular – the “youth drain” inclusive and respectifully written – the “brain drain” – and in ALL honesty it was occuring pre the outbreak of the Novel coronavirus in February 2020 “broadsheet” throughout the workforce of Hungary, especially in academia/science/medicine/law & “others” – just goes on.
Do the youth – the young aspiring ambitious Hungarians – revert back – after “trials & tribulations” endeavouring to find work or career paths of opportunities – for their FUTURE – to simple ask the question;
“What incentive is their for me – to stay in Hungary”???
Times worsen in Hungary – and sadly – this RELOCATION of Hungarians – will not subside in the foreseeable FUTURE.
Could be characterized as Economic Migrants – the people our Politicians usually fulminate against?