The unemployment rate in Hungary climbed to 4.9% in December-February 2026 from 4.6% in the same month in the previous year. This marked the highest reading since the April-June 2016 period, as the number of unemployed individuals increased by 11.9 thousand year-on-year to 235.7 thousand. Of the total unemployed, 125 thousand were men, with an unemployment rate of 4.8%, while 111 thousand were women, at 4.9%. Moreover, the average time spent looking for a job was 11.9 months, with 37.2% of unemployed having been looking for a job for less than 3 months, while 28.2% for those looking for work for 4-11 months, and 34.6% for more than a year. Meanwhile, the number of employed persons declined by 5.5 thousand to 4.623 million. Employment among men decreased by 34 thousand, to 2.453 million, while employment among women fell by 32 thousand to 2.169 million. source: Hungarian Central Statistical Office

Unemployment Rate in Hungary increased to 4.90 percent in February from 4.60 percent in January of 2026. Unemployment Rate in Hungary averaged 6.40 percent from 1999 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 11.60 percent in March of 2012 and a record low of 3.10 percent in December of 2019. This page provides the latest reported value for - Hungary Unemployment Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Hungary Unemployment Rate - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on March of 2026.

Unemployment Rate in Hungary increased to 4.90 percent in February from 4.60 percent in January of 2026. Unemployment Rate in Hungary is expected to be 4.40 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Hungary Unemployment Rate is projected to trend around 4.10 percent in 2027 and 3.90 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-02-27 07:30 AM
Unemployment Rate
Jan 4.6% 4.4% 4.5%
2026-03-27 07:30 AM
Unemployment Rate
Feb 4.9% 4.6% 4.6%
2026-04-24 06:30 AM
Unemployment Rate
Mar 4.9% 4.4%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Employed Persons 4622773.00 4628304.00 Jan 2026
Employment Rate 64.85 64.88 percent Jan 2026
Job Vacancies 63762.00 66863.00 Dec 2025
Job Vacancy Rate 2.10 2.10 percent Sep 2025
Labor Force Participation Rate 68.15 68.01 percent Jan 2026
Population 9.54 9.58 Million Dec 2025
Unemployed Persons 235667.00 223818.00 Jan 2026
Unemployment Rate 4.90 4.60 percent Feb 2026
Gross Wage YoY 8.50 8.90 percent Dec 2025
Wages 789223.00 756437.00 HUF/Month Dec 2025


Hungary Unemployment Rate
In Hungary, the unemployment rate measures the number of people actively looking for a job as a percentage of the labour force.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
4.90 4.60 11.60 3.10 1999 - 2026 percent Monthly

News Stream
Hungary Jobless Rate at 4.9% in December-February
The unemployment rate in Hungary climbed to 4.9% in December-February 2026 from 4.6% in the same month in the previous year. This marked the highest reading since the April-June 2016 period, as the number of unemployed individuals increased by 11.9 thousand year-on-year to 235.7 thousand. Of the total unemployed, 125 thousand were men, with an unemployment rate of 4.8%, while 111 thousand were women, at 4.9%. Moreover, the average time spent looking for a job was 11.9 months, with 37.2% of unemployed having been looking for a job for less than 3 months, while 28.2% for those looking for work for 4-11 months, and 34.6% for more than a year. Meanwhile, the number of employed persons declined by 5.5 thousand to 4.623 million. Employment among men decreased by 34 thousand, to 2.453 million, while employment among women fell by 32 thousand to 2.169 million.
2026-03-27
Hungary Jobless Rate Rises in November-January
The unemployment rate in Hungary rose to 4.6% in November–January 2026 from 4.3% a year earlier, marking the highest rate since the August–October 2025 period. The number of unemployed individuals increased by 11 thousand year-on-year to 223.8 thousand. Of the total unemployed, 122.3 thousand were men, with an unemployment rate of 4.8%, while 101.5 thousand were women, at 4.5%. Moreover, the average time spent looking for a job was 12.2 months, 37.1% of the unemployed had been searching for less than 3 months, while 35.8% had been unemployed for at least a year. Meanwhile, the number of employed persons declined by 68.4 thousand to 4.628 million. Employment among men fell by 41 thousand to 2.449 million, while employment among women decreased by 27.4 thousand to 2.179 million.
2026-02-27
Hungary Jobless Rate Steady in October-December
The unemployment rate in Hungary stood at 4.4% in October-December 2025, unchanged from the same month in the previous year. The number of unemployed individuals decreased by 3.2 thousand from a year earlier to 213,1 thousand. Of the total unemployed, 116 thousand were men, with their unemployment rate at 4.5%,while 97 thousand were women and their unemployment rate at 4.3%. The average time spent looking for a job was 12.7 months. Among the unemployed, 39.1% had been seeking work for less than 3 months, while 36.2% had been looking for at least a year. Meanwhile, the number of employed persons declined by 46.4 thousand to 4,642.4 million. Employment among men fell by 23.7 thousand to 2.456.8 million, while employment among women decreased by 22.7 thousand to 2,185.6 million.
2026-01-23