Unemployment rate

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The unemployment rate is defined as the number of unemployed as a percentage of the labor force. Labor market indicators for Austria are compiled by the Main Association of Austrian Social Security Institutions (payroll employment) and by the Austrian Public Employment Service (vacancies, unemployment and). They are available in industry and regional breakdowns, are collected at monthly intervals and published with a very high degree of timeliness.

The international (Eurostat, ILO) and national definitions of unemployment mainly differ in two aspects: the underlying definition of employment and the underlying concept of job search. According to the international definition, persons qualify as employed if they work more than one hour per week. According to the national definition, persons qualify as employed if their earnings from employment are above the marginal earnings threshold. Moreover, according to the international definition, “job search” means that people are actively looking for a job. According to the national definition, “job search” means that people have submitted a request for job placement to the Public Employment Service Austria (AMS).