Published on: 26 February 2021

Methodological change

Unemployment rate was 5.0%

According to the methodology changed from 1 January 2021 in line with international regulations, the number of unemployed in January 2021 was 238 thousand, up 54 thousand on the same period of the previous year. The unemployment rate increased by 0.8 percentage points to 5.0%. In the period from November 2020 to January 2021, the number of unemployed was 209 thousand, 49 thousand more than a year earlier. The unemployment rate was 4.3%, 1.0 percentage points higher than the previous year.

In January1 2021

The number of unemployed2 was 238 thousand, and the unemployment rate was 5.0%.

Compared to December 2020, the number of unemployed increased by 38 thousand and the unemployment rate by 0.8 percentage points.

Compared to January of the previous year, the number of unemployed increased by 54 thousand and the unemployment rate by 1.1 percentage points.

In November 2020–January 2021,3 compared to a year before:

The number of unemployed people aged 15–74 grew by 49 thousand to 209 thousand and their unemployment rate increased by 1.0 percentage points to 4.3%. Among men, the number of unemployed increased by 22 thousand to 108 thousand and the unemployment rate grew by 0.8 percentage points to 4.2%. In the case of women, the number of unemployed rose by 27 thousand to 101 thousand and the unemployment rate increased by 1.2 percentage points to 4.5%.

Among people aged 15–24, the number of unemployed increased to 40 thousand and the unemployment rate by 2.3 percentage points to 13.0%. Nearly one-fifth of all unemployed come from this age-group. Unemployment rates for people aged 25–54 grew by 0.9 percentage points to 3.9%, and for people aged 55–74 increased by 1.4 percentage points to 3.2%.

The average duration of unemployment was 9.4 months; 28.9% of unemployed people had been looking for a job for one year or more, i.e. were long-term unemployed.

Unemployment among 15–74* year-olds by age group, November 2020–January 2021

Age group, year–old Number Unemployment rate
thousand persons change, thousand personsa) % change, percentage pointa)
15–2440.25.013.02.3
25–54142.132.23.90.9
55–7426.611.83.21.4
Total208.948.94.31.0

* Data of the 15–64 age group are available (2.1.0.2 STADAT Table).
a) Compared to the same period of the previous year.

At the end of January 2021, compared to a year earlier:

According to the administrative data of the National Employment Service (https://nfsz.munka.hu/), the total number of registered jobseekers increased by 19.6% to 299 thousand.