Job Insecurity: 22% of Hungarians Worried

For nearly 60% of the population, managing finances is a major source of stress, while the overwhelming majority view money as the key to security and freedom. Fear of inflation continues to weigh most heavily on Hungarians, but concerns about unemployment have also risen significantly over the past year: one in five respondents perceives the risk of losing their job as a real threat, according to Provident Financial Ltd.’s representative survey conducted in April.

Hungarians primarily associate money with security (84%) and the opportunity for new experiences (84%); 78% view it as a guarantee of freedom, and seven out of ten believe it is an investment in the future – as highlighted by the latest Barometer survey commissioned by Provident to examine the financial situation of the population. While three out of four Hungarians feel they handle their money responsibly, for nearly 60% of them, dealing with finances is also a major source of stress in their daily lives.

The representative survey, conducted by Ipsos Plc. on a sample of 1,000 people, also reveals that inflation remains the most significant existential threat among respondents: one-third of those surveyed identified it as the strongest source of anxiety.

Compared to surveys from previous years, however, the number of people worried about their jobs has risen significantly: while in April 2025 only 15% of the population feared losing their jobs, today 22% view this as a real threat. Fears about retirement concern one in five people, while a prolonged loss of income due to illness worries 13% of those surveyed. Only 12% of respondents stated that they do not fear any of these fundamental existential threats.

These fears also have a direct impact on financial behavior: two-thirds of the population (68%) plan to curb their spending in the coming six months, and only 8% are considering increasing their spending. Meanwhile, nearly one-third of respondents do not feel prepared to make financial decisions, 42% believe that although they have sufficient knowledge, they occasionally seek the help of experts, and only 28% of respondents consider themselves sufficiently prepared to feel confident about their finances on their own.

The research also highlights how Hungarians view what would best help them achieve their financial goals: 24% see personalized advice as the key, while 23% each see potential in digital apps and financial software, as well as in online financial content – meaning that openness to seeking help and information is just as strong as the stress associated with managing money.