Hungary is suffering one of the worst labor shortages on record, with employers across all sectors struggling to fill vacancies. 

Although the country is one of the fastest-growing economies in Europe and has near record-low unemployment, companies are almost empty of workers.

While all sectors have been left to pick up the pieces, from health to IT, engineering and tourism, construction is one the worst affected.

Construction alone estimates the need of up to 50,000 additional workers.

In a bid to ease the labor squeeze, the country is courting Asian workers, going against the nationalist policies of Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

"Foreign citizens who work in Hungary with permission are doubling every year… now it is at about 150,000," said David Ferenc, a labor market expert.

Barriers to entry

This year, the government issued 75,000 work permits mainly to workers from Ukraine as well as Vietnam, China and India. This is a huge increase from the 13,000 permits issued four years ago.

Despite these measures, the Hungarian government still keeps migration from other regions tight.

Barriers are still erected along the country's borders and the number of inbound workers is limited, still hindering the ability to close the shortage gap.

In February, Orban announced a new tax loan benefit for families as part of efforts to increase the birth rate.

He also announced measures that would include an expansion of a loan program for families with at least two children to help them buy homes.

Personal income tax would also be waived for women raising at least four children.

Hungarian exodus

Despite these measures, local Hungarians are still lured to work overseas, with the pull of the West reducing domestic supply.

"During the last 30 years, more than one million people disappeared from the supply side of the Hungarian labor market. On top of that, we are talking about an ageing population," said Mark Kratky from Job Centre.

Low wages continue to encourage local workers to emigrate and prevent others inside the EU seeking work in Hungary.

This month, Orban announced a cash subsidy for businesses that can use technology to boost production without creating new jobs.

According to Reuters, economic growth in Hungary slowed to 4.9 percent in the second quarter, from 5.3 percent the previous quarter.

The central bank expects a further slowdown next year as the eurozone, Hungary's main trading partner, slows.

For now, solutions are complex, the labor gap is widening, and a quarter of a million jobs are still vacant.