For the first time, the relationship between migration from Hungary to Austria and subjective well-being was explored in an international study involving Corvinus University of Budapest. 

The study provided an in-depth picture of the more than 100,000-strong Hungarian community in Austria as part of the MIGWELL project, a collaboration between the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Corvinus University of Budapest, and the University of Vienna. Using both qualitative and quantitative methods, the researchers investigated the connection between these two factors, presenting their findings at an international conference in Vienna in mid-June. 

While Hungarians’ satisfaction with life improved slightly during the 2010s, Austrians still have a higher average score: 7.9 versus 6.9 on a 0–10 scale (this phenomenon is sometimes called the “happiness iron curtain”). There is also a significant income gap: taking purchasing power and inflation into account, the average Austrian earned 2.3 times more than their Hungarian counterpart in 2022, one of the largest differences between neighbouring European countries. Most respondents reported higher happiness and financial stability, but they still face major issues, including overqualification, language barriers, and social exclusion. 

“An important takeaway from the results is that people’s objective income situation alone doesn’t explain their intention to migrate; rather, dissatisfaction plays a crucial role. In general, it’s not the poorest or the richest who plan to move abroad from Hungary, but those with middle incomes, specifically those earning between 300,000–500,000 HUF (750–1250 EUR) per month,” said Lilla Tóth, one of the project’s researchers and a senior researcher at Corvinus University. 

Advantages: finances, optimism, happiness, calmness 

Among those planning to migrate, 85% cited financial reasons as one of the three main motivations. However, only 57% of Hungarians already living in Austria considered finances an important factor for staying; for them, relative income is more significant than absolute income. They mostly compare themselves to similarly qualified Austrians. The average satisfaction score with life among Hungarian migrants in Austria was 7.4, halfway between the Austrian and Hungarian national averages. Respondents were particularly satisfied with their income and the quality of public services but less so with their social connections and available leisure time. Their trust in the Austrian government and media far exceeded that of their Hungarian counterparts. 

Another key finding of the research was the overall increase in life satisfaction among Hungarians who moved to Austria, with scores rising by 1.5 to 0.8 points on the 0-10 scale, depending on the measurement method. This increase was particularly pronounced among men and those with lower education levels. Stress and depression levels decreased, and positive emotions increased: migrants became happier and calmer. 

Migration contributed the most to a boost in optimism, and the perception of life’s meaning improved, particularly among the more educated. Only 4.5% felt that the move did not meet their expectations. Overall, 72% of respondents were more satisfied with their lives in Austria than they had been in Hungary. However, this also means that one in four individuals experienced no significant change upon arriving in Austria, or in some cases, even the opposite. The researchers aimed to identify the reasons for this. 

Challenges: overqualification, language, discrimination, loneliness 

The results identified four main challenges that affect the subjective well-being of Hungarian migrants in Austria: overqualification, language barriers, discrimination, and connections to their home country. According to the responses, almost a quarter of Hungarians employed in Austria are overqualified for their current jobs, with this being more common among women. Overqualification increases the likelihood of unsuccessful integration by 8%, raises the stress risk by 19%, and lowers job satisfaction by 11%. However, 60% of potential migrants would be willing to accept a job beneath their qualifications. 

While 88% of Hungarian migrants in Austria can speak basic conversational German, 27% of those planning to migrate do not speak the language at all. Insufficient language skills lead to fewer friendships, less participation in leisure activities, and greater social exclusion, all of which ultimately reduce life satisfaction and increase the likelihood of returning home. 

Most respondents did not feel excluded from Austrian society, but for those who did, this significantly impacted their subjective well-being. Few Hungarian emigrants completely sever ties with their homeland, and regular “home visits” and money transfers are common. 

The only notable downside was the weakening of social relationships and a slight increase in loneliness. “Migrants can fall into the trap of loneliness: respondents who left their partner or children behind were 13 percentage points less happy than those who remained in Hungary,” said Lilla Tóth about the study’s findings.