Disadvantaged Social Classes in the Labour Market in the Border Regions of the Northeast Great Plain

Abstract

In the North-Eastern part of the Great Hungarian Plain unemployment has been far higher than the national average since 1990, and this causes an enormous problem both for the economy and the society. The large number of long term unemployed and Romany makes the situation of the examined territory even worse. In general, 70-80% of this ethnic group is constantly out of the legal labour market and it is estimated that they make the majority of hidden unemployement. Their chances to enter the labour market again are very limited.

The most serious problems of the labour market in the North-Eastern Great Plain borderlands are the constant lack of jobs, the high rate of an unskilled workforce and the long term unemployed.

It is the elimination of the unfavourable conditions first of all that will lead to a reduction of unemployment to the satisfactory level. This demands large-scale co-operation, government support and financial resources to develop the region.