Project Perspective Report
Immigration in Hungary can be characterised with the following:
The number and proportion of immigrants is low, 1,5 – 2,0 percent of the population. The proportion of the foreign born population is still only 3,5 percent. The spatial distribution of immigrants is very uneven – the vast majority of them live in the capital city and its surroundings.
Immigrants mostly come from the neighbouring European countries, and most of them are of Hungarian ethnicity. Other relevant nationalities are: Chinese, Vietnamese, Russian, German, British, French, American.
The proportion of asylum seekers among immigrants has been very low since the early 2000s (2-3 thousand claims a year). In the early 1990’s the majority of immigrants came as asylum seekers due to the upheavals in Romania and the subsequent war in Yugoslavia.
Immigration is mainly a demand-driven, sub-regional labour migration, often based on seasonal or temporary employment; movement of family members and family unification is less significant, although it has been growing for the past few years.
Regarding the social and demographic composition of immigrants those with a long term resident status have a better economic position than the native population which is due to their different age structure (higher proportion of population in an active age among them), and their better education level. Their advantage is reflected by their better labour market position in comparison with the native population. Those who are short term residents with a work permit usually show worse labour market position, being over-represented in low-skilled, menial jobs.
Irregular (illegal) immigration mostly involves either transiting through the country or engagement in seasonal or temporary employment; settling permanently is not typical for undocumented migrants in Hungary.
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