Hungary Unemployment Rate Rises in August

The unemployment rate in Hungary rose to 4.8% in the June to August 2026 period from 4.6% in the corresponding period a year earlier, highest recorded rate since February 2026. The number of unemployed individuals increased by 18.1 thousand from a year ago to 234.7 thousand. Of the total unemployed, 116.5 thousand were men, with an unemployment rate of 4.5%, while 118.2 thousand were women, with an unemployment rate of 5.1%. Moreover, the average time spent looking for a job was 11.7 months. Among unemployed individuals, 42.6% had been seeking work for less than three months, while the share looking for work for more than a year increased by 4.2 percentage points to 33.7%. Meanwhile, the number of employed persons decreased by 24 thousand year-on-year to 4.655 million. Employment among men is at 2.464 million, while employment among women decreased by 18.5 thousand to 2.191 million.

The unemployment rate in Hungary rose to 4.6% in the May to July 2026 period from 4.3% in the corresponding period a year earlier. The number of unemployed individuals increased by 12.7 thousand from a year ago to 225 thousand. Of the total unemployed, 113 thousand were men, with an unemployment rate of 4.4%, while 112 thousand were women, with an unemployment rate of 4.9%. Moreover, the average time spent looking for a job was 12.0 months. Among unemployed individuals, 39.9% had been seeking work for less than three months, while the share looking for work for more than a year increased by 5.5 percentage points to 34.7%. Meanwhile, the number of employed persons decreased by 29 thousand year-on-year to 4.651 million. Employment among men remained broadly unchanged at 2.471 million, while employment among women decreased by 23 thousand to 2.180 million.

The unemployment rate in Hungary stood at 4.5% in the period from April to June 2026, unchanged from the corresponding period a year earlier. The number of unemployed individuals declined by 0.4 thousand from a year earlier to 218 thousand. Of the total unemployed, 106 thousand were men, with an unemployment rate of 4.1%, while 112 thousand were women, with an unemployment rate of 4.9%. Moreover, the average time spent looking for a job was 12.5 months. Among unemployed individuals, 36.7% had been seeking work for less than three months, while 28.0% had been looking for work for 4–11 months. The proportion of those searching for work for more than a year increased by 3.6 percentage points to 35.3%. Meanwhile, the number of employed persons decreased by 28 thousand year-on-year to 4.633 million. Employment among men increased by 1 thousand to 2.473 million, while employment among women decreased by 29 thousand to 2.160 million.