Hungary

Education differentials

The percentages of women among university degree holders in various disciplines in 1996 gives information on the education status in terms of gender in Hungary.

Sources: UN/ECE database based on national sources, UNESCO Statistical Yearbook 1999

Internet usage

As of July 2002, 47 percent of Hungary's total Internet users were women. In 1998, the figure was 37 percent. It is expected that the number of Internet users will double in the next few years.[1]

Labor market participation by women

Women hold 44.8 percent of all jobs in all occupations. Women account for 35.3 percent of managers (including legislators and senior government officials), 57.2 percent of professionals, and 55.2 percent of service industry workers in the country. About 27 percent of skilled agricultural workers, 55 percent of unskilled workers, and 21 percent of craft and trade workers are women. Women also form 7.5 percent of the Hungarian armed forces. Women are employed in 92.5 percent of the total number of clerical jobs, 63 percent of technicians are women, and 23.7 percent of plant and machine operators are women. [2]

Government Policy on ICTs

The Szechenyi Plan is a medium-term economic plan that includes a component on the information society and development of the information economy. The program emphasizes electronic government, infrastructure development, and social policy. There is a special mention of small, disadvantaged towns and disadvantaged groups such as prisoners and minorities who need special attention, but gender concerns find no mention in the document. [3]

Conclusion

Hungarian women had a significant presence among university degree holders in 1996, although it was not so marked in ICT-related disciplines. Women's Internet use has grown in the last few years. Data on women's participation in the ICT sector were not readily available, but women are likely to be present in larger numbers at the lower-level jobs, such as operators, and in lower numbers in managerial positions. There is no mention of gender issues in ICT policy documents.

Back to top