The unemployment rate continues to rise: 436 thousand people without jobs
Unemployment continued to rise in February, with more than 436,000 people registered without work or in training, showing that the labor market has yet to recover.
According to the Arbeitsmarktservice (AMS – Public Employment Service), 436,160 people were unemployed or in training at the end of the month. This represents an increase of 6,220 people, or 1.4 percent, compared with the same month last year. The unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 8.3 percent.
AMS chief يوهانس كوبف said the figures show early signs of stabilization despite the overall rise. He pointed out that unemployment is already falling in regions such as Upper Austria and Carinthia, while the number of available job openings is starting to increase again.
However, Kopf warned that international developments could threaten the fragile recovery. He said the conflict in the Middle East, beyond causing severe human suffering, could also have serious economic consequences for Austria.
The AMS stressed that while recent data suggests the pace of job losses is slowing, sustained improvement will depend on both domestic economic growth and global stability in the coming months.