The trend has reversed: the shortage of skilled workers in the construction industry has increased once again

„Although the waiting time has increased by three days, the average of 56 days is still acceptable; this is roughly the amount of time it takes for a skilled worker to take on a new job. However, the shortage of skilled workers varies significantly between different parts of the country, which is primarily explained by the geographical concentration of investment and the labour supply in each region,” said Béla Markovich, managing director of Mapei Kft., at a press conference organised by the company.

Regional trends in the shortage of skilled workers in Hungary in February 2026: (Source: Mapei Kft.)

The longest waiting times are found in the Southern Great Plain, where it takes an average of 65 days to find a contractor. Within the region, lead times are particularly longer in Bács-Kiskun and Csongrád-Csanád counties, which can be explained by industrial investment in the area and the growing demand for construction.

According to , there is also a significant shortage of skilled workers in Central Transdanubia, where the average waiting time before work can begin is 63 days. Longer lead times are particularly common in the region, especially in Fejér and Komárom-Esztergom counties, which can be partly attributed to industrial developments and the region’s proximity to the capital.

According to South Transdanubia, it takes an average of 60 days between contacting a specialist and the start of work. Within the region, waiting times are longest in Somogy and Baranya counties.

According to , in Western Transdanubia, the average wait time for a contractor is 59 days. The shortage of skilled workers is particularly acute in the region, especially in Győr-Moson-Sopron and Vas counties, a situation that may be influenced by strong economic activity and the pull effect of the Austrian labour market.

In the Central Hungary region, the average waiting time is 58 days. In Budapest and Pest County, ongoing renovation and construction projects are keeping demand high, which also contributes to longer lead times.

In the northern and eastern parts of the country, however, the wait for a professional is shorter. In the Northern Great Plain, the average wait to start work is 49 days; contractors are available more quickly, particularly in Hajdú-Bihar and Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg counties.

There are also significant differences in lead times across different sectors. The longest waiting times continue to be found among main contractors, where clients have to wait an average of 63 days for work to commence.

The lead times are similarly long for tilers (60 days) and bricklayers (59 days), as well as for building insulators (57 days). In the middle of the range are tinsmiths (54 days), painters (47 days) and carpenters (46 days). The shortest lead times are typical of building services engineering trades: on average 44 days for building services engineers, 43 days for plumbers and gas fitters, whilst electricians typically have a lead time of just 39 days.

The scale of the projects also has a significant impact on the start of construction: for large-scale projects, the average lead time before work begins is 63 days; for medium-scale projects, it is 62 days; for smaller projects, it is 52 days; and for minor repairs, the average lead time is 43 days.

Construction costs are higher in the north and in Transdanubia, but lower in the Great Plain

Labour costs, however, have barely changed over the past year. The average cost of skilled labour in February 2026 was 9,596 forints per square metre, representing an increase of just 1 per cent compared with the previous year.

„However, regional data reveal significant differences, with a gap of more than 3,500 forints between the country’s most expensive and cheapest counties. These differences are primarily driven by variations in economic development, the concentration of investment and effective demand: in regions where there are more construction projects and greater demand for contractors, labour costs are typically higher,” said Béla Markovich.

Average labour costs for skilled trades by county in February 2026 (Source: Mapei Kft.)

According to , the highest average construction costs are found in Central Transdanubia, where the average construction cost is 10,402 HUF/m². Prices are also above the national average in Budapest (10,072 HUF/m²) and Central Hungary (9,893 HUF/m²).

Among the regions of Transdanubia, the average labour cost per square metre for skilled trades is 9,714 HUF in South Transdanubia and 9,418 HUF in West Transdanubia.

The lowest prices are found in the Great Plain. In the Northern Great Plain, the average labour cost per square metre is 8,532 HUF, whilst in the Southern Great Plain it is 8,824 HUF.

Even greater differences can be seen when broken down by county. The highest labour costs are found in Veszprém County, where skilled trade work costs an average of 10,972 forints per square metre. Prices are also high in Komárom-Esztergom (10,614 HUF), Baranya (10,343 HUF) and Budapest (10,072 HUF).

The lowest labour costs are found in Békés County , where the average rate is 7,413 forints per square metre. Prices are also below the national average in Hajdú-Bihar (7,947 forints) and Bács-Kiskun (8,410 forints).

The headquarters of Mapei
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