Hungary Jobless Rate Rises in November-January

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.

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.

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.