The number of registered job seekers in the first two months of the year has never been this low, the Ministry of Economic Development (GFM) told MTI on Friday.

According to data from the National Employment Service, there were 245,121 registered job seekers in February 2023. This is the most favourable February data ever, with the number of job seekers decreasing by an additional 7,000 compared to the same level a year earlier. Since the operation of the registry, the number of registered job seekers has never been this low in the first two months of the year, while employment has been at a record level of 4.7 million for eight months—the ministry noted in its statement.

GFM highlighted that the government is doing everything it can to protect families, pensioners, and full employment even in the current difficult economic situation due to the war and sanctions. In order to be successful in that endeavour, the government must protect the economy from recession and maintain, or even increase, the level of performance and competitiveness of businesses. The government has introduced ten separate measures to protect jobs, including launching the Baross Gábor Reindustrialisation Credit Programme with a budget of HUF 700 billion and the Baross Gábor Capital Programme with a budget of HUF 600 billion.

In addition to targeted government measures, the launched Programmes Supporting the Workforce of Businesses and the Support for Gaining Work Experience initiatives have also contributed to the favourable results. Applications have already been received for funding making possible the employment of approximately 7,000 job seekers, in the value of more than HUF 7 billion. Thanks to the government programme, nearly 5,000 unemployed have already successfully found a workplace, the statement of the Ministry of Economic Development highlighted.