Why are nurses and health workers going abroad?

One of the main reasons for nurses and healthcare workers to migrate abroad is low wages in Hungary. Many professionals feel that their responsible and physically and mentally demanding work is not commensurate with their income, while they can earn several times more abroad. In addition, working conditions also play a significant role: overwork, labor shortages and lack of equipment can lead to burnout in the long run.

The issue of professional esteem is also an important factor. Many healthcare workers report that they receive greater respect, better work organization and more development opportunities abroad. Access to further training, modern technologies and predictable career paths are also attractive.

Emigration is often driven by quality of life considerations: a more stable future, a better work-life balance and greater financial security. Although many intend to work abroad to gain temporary experience, many of them end up staying there permanently, which poses a serious challenge for the domestic healthcare system.

The average monthly gross salary of a nurse/caregiver in Hungary is approximately 290,000–600,000 HUF (~€760–1,500), while an Austrian earns approximately €2,800–€3,500 (~1–1.4 million HUF) in the same positions.

Healthcare/nursing salaries in Austria are significantly — usually 2.5–4× — higher than in Hungary, which is why many Hungarian healthcare workers also move to Austria to work.