Unemployment Rose Significantly in July
In July, 359,374 people were registered as unemployed or in an AMS training program. This is an increase of 17,605 job seekers compared to July of the previous year, a rise of 5.2 percent. The unemployment rate is 6.7 percent (up 0.3 percentage points year-on-year), the Ministry of Social Affairs announced on Friday. The number of long-term unemployed increased by 9.8 percent.
Unemployment Increased in Various Sectors
Unemployment among women increased by 6.8 percent in July, while there was a 4.3 percent increase among men. Youth unemployment rose by 3.7 percent. The number of immediately available apprenticeship seekers registered with the AMS increased significantly by 7.3 percent. Unemployment among people with foreign citizenship increased by 5.3 percent, while it was 5.5 percent for Austrians.
Focus on Freelance Contracts
The Ministry of Social Affairs took a closer look at the development of freelance contracts: these continue to increase. In June 2025, around 15,200 fully insured freelance contracts were registered - an increase of 3.9 percent compared to the same month of the previous year. In addition, there were around 26,900 marginal freelance contracts (up 6.5 percent).
Particularly noticeable was the increase among men. "With an increase of 7.2 percent, the rise in freelance contracts above the marginal employment threshold in June is significantly higher than among women, whose number stagnated at 0.2 percent," according to the ministry. About one in five freelance contracts is in the health and social sector, followed by the education and teaching sectors as well as scientific and technical services.
The development in the sector of "other postal, courier, and express services," which also includes food delivery services, is striking: Compared to June 2024, the number of freelance contracts here has more than quadrupled.
Among Others, Upper Austria and Styria Particularly Affected by the Rise in Unemployment
A look at the federal states shows: Particularly the industrial states of Upper Austria and Styria, as well as the tourist-oriented Tyrol and Salzburg, were affected by the rise in unemployment. In terms of education, the sharply rising unemployment among academics stands out once again. Here, the increase was 13 percent year-on-year, while the rise among compulsory school graduates was 3 percent. People with disabilities are also particularly affected by increasing unemployment (up 11.9 percent).
Fewer Job Vacancies
Statistics Austria also contributed figures to the labor market today. In the 2nd quarter of 2025, Austrian companies reported 147,900 job vacancies according to a quarterly sample survey. This corresponds to a decrease of 4.0 percent compared to the previous quarter. This is the fifth consecutive quarter with a decline in vacant positions.
The increasing number of people looking for jobs prompted numerous reactions on Friday. The Federation of Austrian Industries stated: "There is an urgent need for positive incentives to make full-time work or the overall expansion of work volume more attractive." The Chamber of Labor said: "The fight against long-term unemployment must be a priority. Companies are also required here." The Trade Union Federation noted: "Long-term unemployment is not an individual failure, but an expression of structural problems in the labor market." The Economic Association referred to its own job monitor, which would show 161,350 job vacancies: "Austria is a leader in the part-time rate, while our companies are desperately searching for staff."
(APA/Red)
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