AmCham Hungary in cooperation with HIPA and ABSL Hungary revealed the latest edition of the business services study at the Business Services Hungary 2023 Conference that featured top notch experts of the industry. The figures tell a tale of rapid success and a good chance for more development as companies bring ever more high value-added functions to the country. On the other hand, instead of costs, the strong talent pipeline and quality of life are the main factors that are increasingly tipping the balance in favor of the region when it comes to site selection.In addition, stakeholder excellence was recognized in three categories at the BSC Awards.
The BSC Survey was first conducted in 2018 in an effort to raise the profile of the sector, and by now it has become the source of invaluable insights. The 2023 last edition covered a two-year period that gives an even more comprehensive understanding of the latest trends shaping the Hungarian BSC market.
Based on the data it is clear that BSCs have witnessed exceptional growth: by now over 100,000 people work in 201 facilities. Those figures were 70,000 and 156 in 2021, respectively.
"The future is in the hands of the young, and they work for you. Not only high value-added jobs are created by you, but also excellent working conditions and high salaries are also provided" HIPA CEO István Joó addressed the audience. In Hungary some 290,000 students study in 63 higher education facilities that form robust potential for businesses in the services sector.
The Necessity of Powering up Education
AmCham Hungary President Zoltán Szabó emphasized the importance of education of which improvement needs to start now to get results down the line.
"There is no time to waste, otherwise the current robust talent pipeline can’t be maintained" - he said. Hungary is often referred to as a best-cost country, but most young people are driven by higher salaries and the prospect of working abroad which puts pressure on employers.
“Companies need to be able to retain talent, while remaining competitive on the cost level,” Mr. Szabó pointed out. He also elaborated on how coordinated branding effort by stakeholders to raise the profile of the sector pays off. As he concluded, it is in everyone’s best interest to keep the most suitable candidates within the industry because it strengthens the ecosystem.
CEE put Into Perspective
The CEE region is attractive for BSC investors based on three factors: cost, talent and quality of life. Cost is less important, though, than it was five or ten years ago. On the other hand, not only students, but also experienced specialists are employed in high numbers which gives ever bigger weight to the sector.
"As we have more senior workforce and move up the value chain, quality of life-related factors such as schools, restaurants and culture are becoming increasingly important. And CEE is very competitive in this respect" -ABSL President Jacek Levernes said.
The CEE region doesn’t compete with Asia at all, but rather with locations like Portugal or Spain that have similar costs of living and salary levels. However, the power of the Budapest brand shouldn’t be underestimated, either. Apart from the Hungarian capital, Prague has a similarly positively strong reputation that is a magnet by itself. “These brands must be strengthened,” Mr. Jacek added.
Outlook for the upcoming years
Citi’s head of CEE economics Piotr Kalisz gave an overview of the regional economic backdrop against which stakeholders aim to prevail. As to costs, hourly labor costs are still substantially below Western Europe, but within the region the differences are not that significant. Unemployment is super low, with the Czech Republic and Poland leading the pack.
On the other hand, unemployment didn’t grow in CEE in spite of the recession and the big influx of migrants from Ukraine. The economy is further projected to bounce back stronger than in Western Europe.
Hungary stands a good chance to keep attracting FDI in the BSC sector. Investors still find good value for money here in spite of labor market challenges. The country also has a lot to offer on the taxation front: a record low corporate tax of 9%, a 15% flat income tax rate and several other related measures (i.e. tax exemption for the under 25 age bracket) make it a perfect choice for investment. Lucrative training incentives further help companies educate their workforce and provide them with attractive career paths. These are all key for the BSC market to thrive.
BSC Awards
The very best BSCs were also recognized in three categories at the event after on-site voting:
- KOSTAL Group (Investor of the Year)
- Tata Consultancy Services (Business Excellence and Innovation)
- Thermo Fisher Scientific (Best in Education Cooperation & Talent Development)
The Best in Education Cooperation & Talent Development award was presented by AmCham recognizing those Business Service Centres operating in Hungary that demonstrate a strong commitment to working with educational institutions and an exceptional dedication to talent development within their companies. This initiative aligns seamlessly with our strong advocacy focus on education, reflecting our steadfast belief that a well-educated workforce is foundational to a more competitive and prosperous country.
We are proud to count all the three award-winning companies among our members. Congratulations to the winners!
