The Job Fair is coming – there is a huge fight for employees

By: Trademagazin Date: 2025. 04. 01. 11:00

The average wage in Hungary has quadrupled since 2007 (from 185,017 forints to 348,800 forints), and the guaranteed minimum wage for skilled workers has increased nearly fivefold. At the same time, life has become more expensive: the price of the euro has increased from 250 forints to 400 forints. This year, the HVG Job Fair is 18 years old, and the organizers examined what has changed in the domestic labor market since a generation came of age.

Those who were born in the year of the first event, 2007, can now participate in this year’s job fair as adults starting their careers between April 9-11.

The labor market has changed a lot since a new generation came of age. In 2007, the guaranteed minimum wage paid to skilled workers was 72,050 forints, this year it is 348,800 forints. Those employed at the average wage earned 185,017 forints then, and 727,700 forints this year. The unemployment rate was 7.5 percent in 2007, and the latest figure is 4.4 percent. The economic environment is also different: one euro cost 250 forints then, and now it is about 400 forints. An interesting fact is that while 18 years ago companies offered fresh IT graduates a gross salary of 270,000 forints, now the median basic salary of a Java developer starting his career is almost 1 million forints gross*.

According to a recent survey**, one of the biggest problems for businesses is the lack of professionals, so it is no wonder that in 2025 the biggest fight will be for the employee himself. Companies are no longer looking for people in their 20s, but also for people in their 30s and 40s, as there is a serious shortage of experienced workers.

The attitude of employees has also changed: the 16-29 year olds are not interested in the name of the company, but rather the task itself, the development opportunities and the work-life balance are important to them. Among white-collar workers, home office is also expected at least 1-2 days a week – any company that is inflexible in this regard may fall victim to strong professionals.