Commuting, defined as daily traveling for employment purposes, has gradually grown in importance in the past decades in Eastern European countries. According to Eurostat, although the freedom of movement may have encouraged cross-border commuting in the EU, it accounted just for 0.9% of the EU-28 workforce. Between the highest number of cross-border commuters, we can find Slovakian (147 thousand), and Hungarian (111 thousand) workers. We chose this topic because there has been a significant increase in the willingness to commute for economic reasons in recent years, and we want to explore the reasons of this. In the case of both examined countries, the inhabitants of the western regions are characterized by high willingness for cross-border commuting. Due to this reason, in own research, we conducted a questionnaire survey in the western regions of Hungary and Slovakia. The results indicate that there are similarities between Hungarian and Slovakian commuters. The regression analysis clearly showed that commuter satisfaction is most affected by the variety of jobs offered and the level of wages.

Out of the European Union’s 104 NUTS 1 (Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics – Level 1) regions, those belonging to the Visegrád Group (also known as Visegrád Four or V4), have been selected for this study due to their comparable socioeconomic characteristics and regional relevance. This study aims to determine whether the obstacles to finding the right employer and job role differ between genders in the V4. These regions, through their historical background and intensive economic relations, influence not only their own territories but also the economy and value system of the entire continent. The results show significant differences between the countries in terms of the types and intensity of barriers. In Hungary, language barriers play a crucial role in restricting participation in the international labour market. In Poland, unequal access to educational opportunities is predominant. In Slovakia, the lack of flexible work arrangements tailored to family responsibilities emerged as the most significant obstacle. In certain areas of the Czech Republic, the influence of traditional gender roles was decisive. By identifying these barriers, this study contributes to understanding how gender disparities shape job-seeking experiences across the V4 countries. The research highlights that understanding the differences between countries is essential for a deeper comprehension of labour market barriers. Based on these findings, targeted measures are required, such as expanding language training in Hungary, making educational opportunities more accessible in Poland, and promoting flexible employment forms in Slovakia and less-developed areas of the Czech Republic. The results provide valuable guidance for developing policies aimed at improving gender equality and labour market participation, particularly through region-specific approaches.