January's unemployment rate of 8.1 percent

In the period of November 2007–January 2008, the number of employed people was 3,873 thousand and the number of unemployed people was 343 thousand.

In the given period, 54.6 percent of
the population aged 15–74 years, 61.6 percent of that aged 15–64
years and 64.2 percent of population at working age were present in
the labour market.

The employment rate calculated for
age-group 15–64, which is used in international comparisons, was
56.5 percent, one percentage point less than the year before. The
decrease in employment can be explained partly by the employment
processes in the beginning of the year, i.e. early retirement due to
changes in pension regulations, low participation in the so-called
supported forms of employment (e.g. public work). In some economic
sectors the change in employment is the consequence of cyclical or
seasonal reasons.

In November 2007–January 2008, the
number of unemployed people was 343 thousand, while the unemployment rate was 8.1 percent. The
trend in the number of unemployed people was the same as that of
registered jobseekers. (Harmonized unemployment rate for December,
the middle month of the period, calculated on the basis of the
dynamics of the registered unemployment data and published by
Eurostat: EU-15: 6.9 percent; EU-27: 7.0 percent; Hungary: 7.6
percent.)

45.0 percent of unemployed people have
been searching for a job for one year or a longer time. The average duration of unemployment was
16.4 months.