Hungarian Talent Less Confident in Business Outlook

Talents at Hungarian workplaces are less optimistic than their global peers when considering their organization’s business outlook in 2026, as well as when looking at AI’s impact on productivity. They hold lower levels of trust in leadership, colleagues and their managers, but are more focused on pay and benefits when considering staying in their current role compared to global averages.

Those are the findings of the latest Randstad Workmonitor, published this week, that explores the views of talent in 35 markets across Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Americas, providing an inside look at their attitudes, ambitions and expectations as the world of work continues to transform.

Its market snapshot on Hungary highlights that a more fraught external environment and the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) mean both talent and employers need to adapt traditional work formats and roles.

43% of employers are confident of growing next year, compared to 45% across the globe. 15% of talent surveyed share their optimism, less than the global average (21%). To help with the rising cost of living, 48% of talent state they have taken on or are looking to take on a second job, compared to the global average of 40%.

When considering AI, 48% of talent feel that AI helps improve their productivity (global: 62%), as do 63% of employers (global: 54%). 66% of talent feel confident that they can use the latest technology (global: 69%). 58% of employers estimate AI will impact a high proportion of tasks (50-100%), with 50% of talent agreeing (global: 58% vs. 52%). 42% of talent believe the adoption of AI in the workplace will mainly benefit companies, not them (global: 47%).

The survey shows workplace is under pressure, yet remains a balancing force in an increasingly unpredictable economic environment.

- 61% of talent trust the leadership of their company (global: 72%).

- 67% say that they trust their colleagues (global: 76%).

- 70% of talent say they have a strong relationship with their manager, compared to 72% of their global peers.

- 64% believe their manager has their best interests in mind (global: 71%).

Collaboration across generations boosts productivity:

- 73% of talent believe that they are more productive when collaborating and taking others’ views on board (global: 78%);

- 93% of employers say that remote or hybrid work has made collaboration more challenging (global: 81%);

- 65% of talent say they rely on people from different generations to broaden their perspectives (global: 74%).

All employers (100%) surveyed highlight generational diversity as a productivity lever (global: 95%), and 93% want to see management spend more time improving team collaboration (global: 90%).

Talent have become more cautious navigating their careers, but still want to chart their own course and not abandon what matters to them. 31% of talent say they want to follow a traditional, linear career path (global: 41%), but 32% say they want to have a portfolio career, switching sectors and jobs throughout their career (global: 38%). While pay attracts talent (77% vs. 81% globally), pay/benefits (41% vs. 23% globally) is the main reason for staying in the current role, topping work-life balance (31%; global: 46%) and job security (25%; global: 23%).

As for greater autonomy at the workplace, 80% of employers agree that it leads to higher engagement, productivity and retention in their organization (vs. 72% globally). 39% of talent still say they quit jobs that didn’t fit their personal lives (global: 39%). 26% left because they weren’t given enough independence to work on their own terms (global: 25%): 31% of talent would not consider accepting a new job if there was no flexibility around work location and 32% would not accept a role without working hours flexibility, compared to 43% each globally.