The FYI-R workshop in Farkaslyuk, organised by HÉTFA and the Hungarian Reformed Church Charity, revealed a deeply pessimistic view among young participants regarding employment prospects in their region.
Local job opportunities are scarce and largely unchanged from previous generations, consisting mainly of public works and informal agricultural labour. These roles are precarious and often mediated through personal connections, which can lead to exploitation — such as lower wages offered to those perceived as desperate.
Teleworking and platform-based jobs are seen as inaccessible luxuries, requiring education and digital tools that most villagers lack. While remote work could benefit women — who are typically confined to childcare and limited local roles—it remains out of reach without targeted skill development.
The gender divide in employment is stark, with men more likely to work or migrate, and women restricted by travel and time constraints. Commuting to Miskolc or Budapest is common but burdensome, and many men work abroad in Austria or Germany, sending money home but sacrificing family life.
The BOSCH factory in Miskolc is viewed as an ideal employer, offering stable, well-paid work, though even there, casual contracts are common. Participants fear that robotisation will further erode traditional jobs, especially in agriculture, and that even informal work will become harder to secure.
Despite widespread smartphone use, digital tools are rarely leveraged for job searches. Climate change is acknowledged but not yet seen as impacting local employment.
The youth believe that meaningful opportunities lie outside Farkaslyuk, and many advocate for early relocation to access better education and career paths. However, emotional ties and high housing costs elsewhere complicate migration.
Ultimately, participants feel trapped between limited local options and inaccessible alternatives, underscoring the urgent need for inclusive employment policies, vocational training, and digital empowerment to restore hope and agency in rural communities.
Local job opportunities are scarce and largely unchanged from previous generations, consisting mainly of public works and informal agricultural labour. These roles are precarious and often mediated through personal connections, which can lead to exploitation — such as lower wages offered to those perceived as desperate.
Teleworking and platform-based jobs are seen as inaccessible luxuries, requiring education and digital tools that most villagers lack. While remote work could benefit women — who are typically confined to childcare and limited local roles—it remains out of reach without targeted skill development.
The gender divide in employment is stark, with men more likely to work or migrate, and women restricted by travel and time constraints. Commuting to Miskolc or Budapest is common but burdensome, and many men work abroad in Austria or Germany, sending money home but sacrificing family life.
The BOSCH factory in Miskolc is viewed as an ideal employer, offering stable, well-paid work, though even there, casual contracts are common. Participants fear that robotisation will further erode traditional jobs, especially in agriculture, and that even informal work will become harder to secure.
Despite widespread smartphone use, digital tools are rarely leveraged for job searches. Climate change is acknowledged but not yet seen as impacting local employment.
The youth believe that meaningful opportunities lie outside Farkaslyuk, and many advocate for early relocation to access better education and career paths. However, emotional ties and high housing costs elsewhere complicate migration.
Ultimately, participants feel trapped between limited local options and inaccessible alternatives, underscoring the urgent need for inclusive employment policies, vocational training, and digital empowerment to restore hope and agency in rural communities.
