The number of job seekers in Austria remains significantly higher than a year ago. In April, 392,600 people were registered as unemployed or in training—an increase of 24,800 or 6.7 percent compared to April 2023. Of those, 311,838 were unemployed, marking an 8.4 percent year-over-year increase. The unemployment rate rose by 0.5 percentage points to 7.3 percent.
Unemployment among women rose by 10.4 percent, compared to 6.9 percent among men. Youth unemployment jumped 10.9 percent, and the number of people seeking apprenticeships rose by 19.4 percent.
Long-Term Unemployment and Foreign Nationals Particularly Affected
Long-term unemployment increased by 14 percent, with around 91,200 people affected. Unemployment among foreign nationals rose by 10.5 percent, while for Austrian citizens, it increased by 7 percent. According to the Ministry of Labor, the number of employed workers dropped by around 1,000.
The Public Employment Service (AMS) released a breakdown showing that people with only compulsory schooling remain the most vulnerable. In 2024, their average unemployment rate was three times higher than the national average.
European Comparison and Industry Responses
In the eurozone, unemployment rose in March (Austria’s latest data is from April). The highest unemployment rates were recorded in Spain (10.9 percent) and Finland (9.1 percent). Malta had the lowest rate (2.8 percent), followed by Slovenia (3.2 percent). Austria’s harmonized unemployment rate was 5.4 percent in March, according to Eurostat.
Despite the concerning numbers, the Austrian Business Association (Wirtschaftsbund) noted a slight positive sign: in April, there were 156,724 open job postings—over 10,000 more than in March.
Calls for Action and Political Reactions
Labor Minister Korinna Schumann (SPÖ) emphasized the need to upskill people with low formal education to improve their job prospects. Helene Schuberth of the Austrian Trade Union Federation (ÖGB) called for a “policy shift,” urging companies to invest more in training to address the growing skills shortage.
Renate Anderl, president of the Chamber of Labor, stressed that unemployment has been steadily increasing for two years, especially among those without formal qualifications. Christoph Neumayer of the Federation of Austrian Industries pointed to Austria’s high labor tax burden—47 percent—as a major issue, with payroll taxes being the largest share.
FPÖ social affairs spokesperson Dagmar Belakowitsch sharply criticized the government, citing rising unemployment, a 10.5 percent increase among foreign nationals, economic stagnation, business relocations, and more bankruptcies. She accused the government of “paralysis in labor market policy.”
The union vida also blamed employers, saying the high unemployment rate reflects their inaction: “Too many companies are doing too little to give job seekers a chance.”
