AMS boss Johannes Kopf: “Unfortunately, unemployment will increase”

The Situation am domestic labor market doesn’t look rosy, that stubborn economic downturn will also leave its mark on us in 2025. At the end of December 2024, 426,012 people were looking for a job, which is 27,007 more than at the end of 2023 (plus 6.8 percent). 352,873 were unemployed at the end of the year and 73,139 people were undergoing AMS training.

According to the AMS boss, many people would find a job even in times of recession John head in the HONEY 2 on January 2nd (“We’re always looking for staff”), but it would still be “no reason for optimism yet” announced, emphasizes the expert. “We have predicted very weak economic growth this year. We have two years of recession behind us and I assume that this will continue in 2025 Unfortunately, unemployment is rising becomes.”

With economic growth of 0.6 percent, unemployment would rise by around half, explains Kopf. “That’s about 15,000 people.”

“Save more than is necessary at first glance”

As it happens in times of recession Record employment in Austria, Kopf has a simple explanation for this: “Because the people work fewer hours.” And further: “A reduction in working hours naturally leads to a weakening of the entire country.”

As in the past, Kopf still favors one Reform of educational leave a. For example, it must be possible to reach more low-qualified people. He emphasizes that the educational leave is not there to extend the baby leave.

The idea of ​​one mandatory integration year supports head. “In terms of content, I am firmly convinced that it would make a lot of sense to invest more in integration from day one.”

As far as the coming months are concerned, one must “smart compromises find where you might even saves more than is necessary at first glance, so that you have money for future investments. In my view, this includes labor market measures, but also research and development.”