Debrecen4U May 19, 2026

Majority of Companies Unable to Meet Labour Demand Without Foreign Workforce, Survey Finds

HR service provider WHC Group said that tightening the admission of third-country workers could cause labour shortages in several sectors, potentially leading to slower production processes and, in some cases, even shutdowns. In their view, this would not only affect company operations but could also threaten the retention of domestic jobs.

WHC Group recently conducted a survey among domestic 157 companies, with results showing that 71.3 per cent of respondents do not consider it feasible to meet their workforce needs exclusively with Hungarian employees. A significant proportion of respondents also rated the recruitment and retention of Hungarian workers as difficult or very difficult under current market conditions.

According to WHC Group, the inactive segment of the domestic labour market cannot quickly replace the missing workforce as their integration, including retraining and rehabilitation, is a longer process that may take years. The company therefore recommends that policymakers hold immediate professional consultations involving large employers and employers’ associations to assess the economic and labour market impact of the planned measures.

WHC Group argues that, in terms of economic stability and investment retention, it is crucial for labour market regulation to be predictable and aligned with market realities.

Source: dehir.hu | Photo credit: Pixabay