Hungarian government raises social worker wages amid severe staffing shortages in care homes

Prime Minister Magyar Péter used the 2027 budget session to announce a wage increase for social workers, acknowledging long-standing under-payment in the sector. The social care system, covering state elderly homes, psychiatric institutions, addiction centers and homeless shelters, is plagued by chronic staff shortages, prompting the government to order admission bans at multiple facilities. According to the Social and Child Protection Directorate, out of 13,251 authorized positions, 11,660 are currently filled, leaving a significant number vacant.

The shortfall varies by region, with Fejér and Győr-Moson-Sopron among the hardest hit, and even the capital region showing gaps. Officials warned that without more staff, expanding capacity remains impossible, and many residents continue to live in overcrowded, substandard conditions.