Companies are recruiting more cautiously now than they planned at the beginning of the year

By: Trademagazin Date: 2025. 07. 24. 11:00

The average number of applicants remains particularly high in the Hungarian labor market, but in the second quarter of 2025, the overall number of applicants decreased by 2.6% compared to the same period in 2024. However, significant differences can be observed in the county breakdown. In the same ratio, the number of job advertisements fell by a tenth – in line with the Hungarian job market trend.

In all counties and in Budapest, companies activated fewer advertisements in the second quarter of this year compared to the same period last year. The largest decline occurred in Vas (31%), Heves (29%) and Nógrád (27%) counties, while the smallest decline was observed in Komárom-Esztergom, Veszprém (2%) and Bács-Kiskun (4%) counties. In Budapest, companies advertised 15 percent fewer job opportunities than in the second quarter of last year.

Significant differences by county

The number of applications nationwide decreased slightly this year, by 2.6% compared to the second quarter of 2024. The largest decline in employee willingness to apply was observed in the counties of Baranya (18%), Jász-Nagykun Szolnok (16%) and Nógrád (14%). In contrast, an increase occurred in nine counties: the largest in Békés (18%), Bács-Kiskun (17%) and Veszprém (13%).

Examined by sector, the number of applications increased the most in the areas of business support centers (29%), company management (17%) and engineering (13%), while the areas of customer service (15%), construction, real estate (11%) and transportation, purchasing, logistics (10%) decreased the most compared to the same period last year. While the number of applicants for engineering positions has increased, the number of jobs advertised in this profession has shown the fourth largest decrease.

More cautious recruitment

“In our survey at the beginning of the year, companies were still optimistic about this year, but in the second quarter, a significantly more cautious attitude was observed in the field of recruitment compared to preliminary plans. The stagnation of the domestic economy for almost 3 years is clearly reflected in the labor market statistics. After its low point in January, the business confidence index moved into a negative direction again in the second quarter, and the employment indicator indicating the expectations of enterprises for staffing is also showing a decreasing trend, so it is no coincidence that we are seeing a decline in the number of advertised jobs in the labor market”

– said Imre Tüzes, Business Development Director at Profession.hu.