High unemployment rate

Many people are looking for a job in these sectors

The unemployment rate in the construction industry is currently 20 percent (symbolic image).

(Bild: APA/Herbert Neubauer)

At the end of February, the unemployment rate in Austria was 7.6 percent. In some sectors, it is even significantly higher at up to 20 percent. This includes construction, for example.

At the end of February, 50,934 employees in the construction sector were registered as unemployed or in training with the Public Employment Service Austria (AMS). This is an increase of 6.3 percent compared to the previous year or an unemployment rate of 20 percent. At the same time, job vacancies have been declining since the summer months of 2022. In the construction industry, there are mainly micro-enterprises with up to nine employees. These are particularly active in building construction and the installation of electrical, plumbing, heating and air conditioning systems.

Here you can see the unemployment figures in detail.

There are also many unemployed people in trade, accommodation and food services as well as in the manufacture of goods. Many people are also currently registered as unemployed in the transport and storage sector as well as in the health and social services sector, as the current AMS figures show. People with a migration background as well as young people and young adults are more affected by unemployment than other groups.

Academics increasingly unemployed
In terms of education, academics were hit particularly hard at the end of February (up 18.4 percent). In absolute terms, it was mainly people who had completed compulsory education or less who were unemployed. They were hit significantly more often than people with an apprenticeship or a higher, non-academic education, for example. In terms of gender, more men than women were unemployed in February.

Overall, people were registered as jobseekers for an average of 102 days, i.e. slightly longer than three months. "Qualified workers are currently being sought in almost all sectors. Demand is particularly high in sectors such as tourism and retail. The more people we train now as part of an apprenticeship, the more qualified personnel will be available to the labor market and companies in a few years' time," says Minister of Labor and Economic Affairs Martin Kocher (ÖVP) with conviction.