Living conditions of young people in Hungary and EU countries between 2007 and 2012

The economic crisis that unfolded in 2009 adversely affected the income situation and livelihood of young adults’ households through several channels. The increase in unemployment reduced the labor income of households, which particularly affected young people in Hungary and other EU countries (Gáti et al. 2012). In addition to the decrease in labor income, the livelihood difficulties of young people were also exacerbated by the fact that crisis management measures also reduced household incomes from state transfers (family support, social assistance) (Tóth–Medgyesi 2011). In our study, we examine how the living conditions and income situation of young adults developed during the economic crisis in Hungary, in comparison with other EU member states. During the economic crisis, the unemployment rate among young people increased significantly. The unemployment rate for 15–24 year olds increased from 16% in the year before the crisis to 23% in 2012 on average in the EU countries (EC 2013). In Hungary, the labour market situation of young people was even worse than the EU average, e.g. the unemployment rate for 15–24 year olds was 20% in 2008, which increased to 28% in 2012. The increase in the unemployment rate among young people was greater than among the total working age population, which in Hungary, similarly to the EU average, increased by 3 percentage points between 2008 and 2012 (from 8% to 11%). In post-industrial societies, due to prolonged schooling, high unemployment among young people, and the postponement of family formation, the independence of young people is increasingly postponed. More and more young people remain dependent on their parents in certain aspects even after reaching adulthood. This so-called “post-adolescence” stage of life is wedged between youth and adulthood, and represents a more or less prolonged transition between the two life stages (Vaskovics 2000).