GKI: Digital competences in Hungary

By: Trademagazin Date: 2024. 08. 07. 12:08

In today’s information society, digital competences are valued on the labor market, and work productivity largely depends on whether employees are comfortable using new technologies. In the vast majority of cases, the performance of high added-value jobs requires some kind of digital competence, so one of the keys to economic catch-up is for the population to have these skills.

In 2010, 58% of households had a broadband Internet connection, which was a significant lag compared to the EU average. By 2023, this rate reached 93%, which is essentially the same as the EU level. Although we are doing well in terms of the indicator overall, sharp regional differences can be observed: in the Northern Great Plain, the proportion of people with an Internet connection is 10 percentage points lower than in the capital (98%).

The demographic differences are also striking from another point of view: 75% of those with a basic education, while 97% of those with a higher education use the Internet daily. When analyzed by age group, the proportion of Internet users among 16-24-year-olds is nearly 100%, while among 55-74-year-olds it is 78%.

However, it does not matter what we use the Internet for: the majority of the population uses it mainly for communication and entertainment, only 43% of Hungarian Internet users read online news sites, and 18% listen to podcasts. Every fourth Internet user takes advantage of the possibility of online administration, and only every fifth uses online teaching materials and courses. The latter data is below the EU average, which is partly explained by the lower purchasing power.

In addition, the proportion of online purchases is also a good indicator of digital openness. In 2020, 60% of the Hungarian population made purchases on the Internet within a year, and then came the coronavirus, which paralleled the role of the online world. Thus, by 2023, this indicator jumped to 70%, reaching the EU average.