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2. The Population of Baranya

Baranya takes 4.8 percent of Hungary's territory, where 4-4.1 percent of the Hungarian population is living.

The density of population in Baranya (93 per km²) is higher than the average of Hungarian counties (90 per km²), however less than the national average (111.6 per km²) which is increased by the capital city itself.

2.1. The Number and Distribution of Population

2.1.1. Aerial Distribution of the Population

It is very uneven, in the direct vicinity of Pécs and Komló (which is only 5 percent of the county territory) more than half of the total county population is living !

2.1.2. Sex and Age Group Structure of the Population

This represents the national average, i.e. there are 4 percent women than men, this majority is represented mainly among women over 40 since in younger age groups there are more men than women. It should be noted that the population increased between 1950 and 1958, 1972 and 1979 while the number of live birth decreased after 1985.

2.2. Demographic Features of Baranya

Natural reduction is characteristic for Baranya after the 80-ies.

The expected age structure can be characterised by ageing and changes in age groups as well.

The process of ageing will be accelerated after the turn of the century when age groups with large population by reaching the retirement age.

The aerial distribution of ageing is rather uneven, in villages with accumulated disadvantages the majority of citizens is old.

The number of live birth is somehow less than the national average, this is especially valid for Pécs.

The Hungarian expected average lifetime was continually decreasing until 1993. From then on, the trend has changed for the opposite and the expected average lifetime for all sex and age groups are has increased, although is still significantly below the EU average.

Sex and age distribution of the population (1 January 2001)

2.3. The Mobility of the Population

The number of people leaving and coming to the county is balanced and affects only 5 percent of the population.

Major features of different settlement groups (2001)

2.4. The Employment Structure

Among the county's population (406,330)

• 115,000 are retired or rentier,
• 114,000 are dependants of which 100,000 below 18 years, and
• 190,000 are able to work, of which 18,000 are unemployed
• Among people able to work (190,000)
• 15 percent have got higher education,
• 25 percent have got secondary school education,
• 31 percent have got specialised or apprentice school,
• 24 percent have completed 8 classes of the elementary school,
• 5 percent completed less than 8 classes.

Among people able to work (190,000)

• 83,000 are working for agricultural/sylvicultural companies with more than 10, or industrial companies with more than 50 employers and the municipalities,
• 85,000 are employed by smaller companies, individual and family enterprises, and
• 18,000 are unemployed

2.5. Educational Institutes

2.5.1. Elementary Education

(age of 6-14 years, 8 classes)

There are 184 elementary schools in the county where 40,000 pupils are taught in 2,000 classes. Beside this there are 28 institutes with 136 classes where about 1,500 mentally handicapped pupils are taught.

2.5.2. Apprentice School

(age 15-17, 3 classes)

There are 11 schools with 270 classes where 8,000 pupils are trained in 50 crafts. Workman exams are taken by 2,500-3,000 apprentices each year.

The major crafts and the related percentage of pupils as follows:

• mechanic engineering - 25 percent
• electric engineering - 9 percent
• woodworking - 7 percent
• textile industry - 6.5 percent
• general industrial - 4 percent
• food processing industry - 4 percent
• instrumentation - 1 percent

2.5.3. Secondary/Grammar School

(age of 15-18, 4 classes)

There are 350 classes for 6,500 pupils for secondary and 6,000 for grammar school education, furthermore another 2,500 adults are completing their secondary education in evening classes. 3,500 pupils are taking a matriculation exam each year.

At grammar schools 200 pupils are taking a special English class, 120 a special German class. 40 percent of secondary school pupils are taking a technical/technological type of education.

2.5.4. Higher Education

In January 2000, the merger of Janus Pannonius University, the University Medical School and Illyés Gyula College of Education lead to the establishment of the present University of Pécs, one of the largest institutions of higher education in Hungary and with the widest range of academic programmes and research projects. The number of students is 25,000 supplied by a 5,000 strong teaching staff. The University of Pécs consists of the following faculties:

• Business and Economics;

• Legal- and State Administration Sciences;

• Technical Sciences;

• Medical Sciences;

• Teachers' Training

• Health Sciences

• Arts;

• Fine Arts

2.6. Unemployment Problems

According to data of the Baranya County Labour Centre the number of registered unemployed and their distribution within the county was the following.

The change of registered unemployed in Baranya county between January 2000 and December 2002

The change of unemployment rate according to branches of the Baranya County Labour Centre.

The unemployment rate in Baranya county is generally higher than the national average.

The rate of unemployed has been gradually decreasing since 1997. 77 percent of the registered unemployed is below 45, 7.5 percent are entrants.

Unemployment allowance in average is provided after 200 working days in the previous four years. The amount of the unemployment allowance is calculated upon the average salaries during the previous four years in work, and can be received for a maximum of 270 days. 

The available jobs registered by the labour centre was 13,552 in 2002. 

Concerning the educational grouping of the unemployed, skilled workers represent 34 percent, unskilled 24 percent, semi-skilled 29 percent, intellectuals 13 percent of the total unemployed.

47 percent of entrants have completed a vocational training school however tha rate of completing a secondary school (24 percent) or a technical school (14 percent) is also significant.

The rate of unemployed with higher education is below 3 percent.

2.7. Training/Retraining of the Unemployed

The Pécs Regional Manpower Development and Training Centre is the first institute of the South Transdanubian region specialised in European standard adult training.

Its main task is to fulfil local labour market needs by trainings appropriate to regional features and demands. The majority of the capacity is taken up by training and retraining of people unemployed and that of mostly endangered. Beside this the state-of-the art equipment and highly qualified staff are capable to provide special courses to employers according to their individual needs in a very efficient way and at low cost.

Directions of training:

• engineering
• electricity
• construction industry
• entrepreneurial - intellectual
• craftsmanship
• pedagogical - methodological - lingual
• agricultural

Main features of the Centre:

• Total basic area: 5,227 m²
• Total capacity: 1,200 persons per year, 410 persons per day
• Number of special workshops, computer labs, educational rooms: 31
• Number of staff: 58

Since the opening of the Centre on the 1st October 1993 there were 2,196 persons completing one of the 138 courses of 100 training directions. The employment rate of persons completing a course was 58.8 percent last year. On the basis of individual needs 29 courses were held for different employers.

Preventive types of training are offered for all regional employers with immediate start.

At present there are 36 ongoing courses at which 460 persons are trained within the region, of which 13 courses/181 persons in Baranya, 5 courses/79 persons in Tolna, 7 courses/124 persons in Somogy county.

2.8. The Cost of Employment