The economic and job slump is making the hoped-for turnaround in the labor market a long way off. In August there was also an increase of 2.3 percent to almost 376,000 unemployed, including training. A closer look at the AMS statistics shows some anomalies that influence the numbers. An overview:
1. Women over 60
It is the largest and most lasting statistical effect. Due to the gradual adjustment of women’s retirement age to men’s, more and more women over 60 are ending up in the unemployment statistics instead of pension statistics. The group is currently responsible for a quarter of the increase in unemployment. In August, 2,260 people were added, an increase of 36 percent to almost 9,000. Employment 60+ rose less strongly, at 23 percent or 20,000 to 107,000. The AMS tries to counteract this with wage subsidies; many of those affected often only have a few months until retirement and bridge the time with the AMS. “It is positive that the vast majority of women stay in employment longer and are therefore able to acquire higher pension entitlements,” says AMS boss Petra Draxl.
2. Acids
Due to the return home, hardly any subsequent immigration and increased job opportunities, unemployment among those entitled to asylum and those entitled to subsidiary protection from Syria is falling sharply, from which the Vienna AMS statistics in particular benefit. In August, including training, there was a decrease of 5,000 affected people to 18,400 pre-registered people – the lowest level in four years. Because of the abolition of social assistance, but also better qualifications in youth colleges, there are more job opportunities among young Syrians. Employment increased by 17 percent to 32,000. There was a similarly strong increase among larger groups of foreigners only among Ukrainians. However, there is a lot of catching up to do among women.
With the exception of Vienna, domestic employment has been shrinking for months due to demographic reasons, which in turn is exacerbating the shortage of skilled workers in some sectors.
3. Academics
The job market for young academics has deteriorated significantly, and unemployment has been rising by double digits for months. The main reasons are the poor economy, training that is far removed from the labor market, little practical experience and the increased use of AI tools, which is rationalizing jobs away. In August there was an increase of 11 percent to 38,000 unemployed. However, the unemployment rate in this group is still by far the lowest of all qualifications at 3.4 percent. It should be noted that the group is getting bigger and bigger. Around 60,000 people complete a degree every year; at the beginning of the 1990s there were 15,000. There are no longer job guarantees with a university or technical college degree.
4. Shortage of (apprenticeship) positions
The staff restraint is not a good sign for the autumn. The number of vacancies reported to the AMS fell by 1.3 percent to just under 80,000 in August compared to the weak previous year. The decline was even more significant for immediately available apprenticeships at 15 percent, and in Vienna even 38 percent. Even though many companies only start recruiting in the fall, there is significantly less training in tourism, trade and public administration. The only bright spot: more full-time positions are being advertised again.
5. Lower Austria
What is striking when comparing federal states is the above-average increase in unemployment of 6.7 percent in Lower Austria, which affects both women (+8.4 percent) and men (+5.3 percent). By sector, there were double-digit increases in scientific and technical services and public administration in August. “We are currently observing a lagging effect in Lower Austria,” explains Draxl. The country got through the weak growth very well for a long time. Now the weakening industry is also making itself felt in Lower Austria. The most recent example is the bankruptcy of the traditional automotive supplier Pollmann.