Janos Gyorgy Szeredi commutes from his home in Hungary to his job in Vienna, Austria. As Hungary commemorates 20 years of European Union membership, Szeredi's journey is emblematic of a growing number of young Hungarians who are leaving their homeland for better opportunities within the E.U.

Mosonmagyaróvár

Hungarians Seek Work Around the E.U. Amid Political Turmoil

As Hungary commemorates two decades of European Union (E.U.) membership, a significant number of its citizens, particularly the younger generation, are moving abroad in search of better job opportunities. This trend is highlighted by the story of János György Szárady, a 47-year-old Hungarian chef who commutes daily to his job in Vienna, Austria, from his home in Hungary. Szárady, who has been making this journey for over 20 years, initially had to navigate through the complexities of visa requirements and language exams before Hungary joined the E.U.

Szárady's experience underscores the broader motivations driving Hungarians to seek employment outside their country. He emphasizes the superior work conditions and pay in Austria, in contrast to what he faced in Hungary. According to Szárady, the respect and camaraderie among international coworkers in Austria starkly contrasts with the workplace environment back home. This sentiment is mirrored by David Juhos, a young Hungarian studying in Vienna, who attributes the exodus of young Hungarians to concerns over the political atmosphere under Prime Minister Viktor Orban's leadership.

The political tensions in Hungary, under Orban's administration, have been marked by disagreements with E.U. allies on various fronts, including military support for Ukraine and economic ties with Russia. The European Union has accused Orban's government of undermining the rule of law, leading to the suspension of substantial E.U. funding for Hungary. These political issues, coupled with the challenges in the job market, have fueled the desire among young Hungarians to relocate. A recent survey highlighted the difficulty three-quarters of young Hungarians face in finding work, with half of the respondents believing they would be working abroad in the next decade.

This movement of young Hungarians within the E.U. illustrates a broader quest for opportunities and stability amidst political and economic uncertainties at home.



Hungarians seek work around the E.U. amid political turmoil

Every morning, János György Szárady leaves his home in Hungary at the crack of dawn to commute to his job in Vienna, Austria. The 47-year-old chef is used to the drive, as he started making the daily journey more than 20 years ago. JÁNOS GYÖRGY SZÁRADY, Hungarian Chef, Vienna, Austria We were not EU members then. I had to get a visa. I had to go to the Austrian embassy in Budapest, and I had to pass a language exam. He says the better work conditions and pay in Austria are worth the long commute. JÁNOS GYÖRGY SZÁRADY, Hungarian Chef, Vienna, Austria Here I am treated like a human being, and no one talks to me like to a dog. It is not like back at home. Here there are people from several countries, and they work alongside each other nicely, without any problems, and there are no stressful situations like back at home. Szárady's situation is emblematic of a growing number of Hungarians who are leaving their homeland for better opportunities in other European Union countries, even as Hungary marks 20 years as a member of the bloc. The trend is prominent among younger Hungarians, like David Juhos, who was studying in Vienna. He expressed concern about the political climate in his home country, under the leadership of Prime Minister Viktor Orban. You can feel it in the atmosphere in Hungary that there is something not right with the whole thing, and it's not going in the right direction. And I think that is the main reason why so many young people move out. Orban has long been at odds with his EU allies over a range of issues, including refusing to send weapons to Ukraine and maintaining economic ties with Russia. The EU has accused Orban's government of undermining the rule of law, which has led to a strained relationship and the suspension of billions of euros' worth of EU funds for Hungary. A survey done in December by a non-governmental organization in Hungary indicated that three quarters of young Hungarians found it hard to find work. Half of the respondents predicted they would be working abroad in a decade.

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