331,156 out of a job – Austria’s first rise in unemployment since 2021

While unemployment among the over-50s and women continues to fall, it is rising slightly among young people and men. The increases relate, among other things, to the construction industry and tourism (both +4.6 percent).

Free access to the labor market for people expelled from Ukraine
In addition, with the now completely free access to the labor market for displaced persons from the Ukraine, they are gradually included in the regular labor market statistics and proactively referred to vacancies and appropriate AMS training by the AMS.

“This will enable us to get even more Ukrainians into the domestic labor market in the future. In total, there are currently 3848 more people unemployed than last year,” said Minister of Labor and Economy Martin Kocher (ÖVP) in April 2023 about the development of the labor market.

The unemployment rate is 6.2 percent
At the end of April, the unemployment rate was 6.2 percent. “As a result, unemployment remains as low as last year, which is mainly due to the increase in employment. With 3,928,000 employees at the end of April, there were 55,000 more people in work than a year ago,” said Kocher.

Positive developments in the apprenticeship system
There are still positive developments in the field of apprenticeships. At the end of April, there was a 4.9 percent increase in company apprenticeships. There are currently 95,311 apprentices in Austrian companies, of whom 31,123 are in their first year of training. For students in companies, this is an increase of 1.4 percent. “Given the high demand for skilled workers, it is a good sign that the number of students is increasing. At the same time, dual learning ensures a high level of employment for young people in Austria,” says Kocher.