We also analyse how far the requirements of work expressed by the respondents are fulfilled by their present job, to their mind. For such cases when discrepancy between wishes and realities occurs, we analyse its impact on the general satisfaction with work. Temporal changes of work attitudes are investigated by respondents' socio-economic status, demographic characteristics, labour market position. Accordingly, we display the variation of answers by gender, cohort, educational level, managerial position, economic branches and sectors. Both surveys have been carried out on nationwide random samples, by trained interviewers, ap-plying standardised questionnaire.
Results indicate that importance of high income has increased during the period in-vestigated.
Job security has been highly important for Hungarian respondents, both in 1989 and in 1997, there is no significant change in this respect. Importance of ca-reer prospects has increased between 1989 and 1997, while flexible working hours are less important attributes of work as they used to be. Certain degree of discrep-ancies between desirable and factual characteristics of work can be observed for high income, job security and career prospects. Discrepancies decrease job satis-faction. Work attitudes are hardly influenced by gender differences.