Applicants are now asking for even a hundred thousand forints more than what they would be offered.

The Hungarian labor market is increasingly divided, with a mismatch between job seekers and available positions. Many applicants demand higher salaries than employers offer, leading to a significant gap. Recent data shows a rise in unemployment despite an increase in employed individuals, indicating more people are actively seeking work. The average duration of job searches has extended, and while job postings have increased, applications have decreased. Geographic disparities in wages persist, with higher salaries in urban areas compared to rural ones. Employers propose modest salary increases, while substantial raises in the public sector may not impact the private sector significantly.