Unemployment in Austria

Unemployment can arise after dismissal, the end of a fixed-term employment relationship, a mutual termination agreement or for other reasons. It affects not only income but often also daily routines, insurance and personal security. The AMS is usually used as the name for the public employment service in Austria. It registers people looking for work, places them in jobs, agrees on steps for the job search and decides, within its responsibilities, on unemployment-insurance benefits. Being registered as looking for work and being unemployed are practically important but not completely identical statuses. Anyone who already knows that a job will end can report the upcoming search early, while registering as unemployed concerns the situation that has actually occurred. Unemployment benefit (Arbeitslosengeld) is generally based on previous insured employment and additional requirements. If there is no entitlement or it later ends, other forms of support may be considered depending on the person’s circumstances. Anyone receiving benefits must be available to the labor market, attend agreed appointments and take reasonable steps to look for work. Changes such as starting work, illness, travel or changed contact details must be reported to the AMS in an appropriate manner. In addition to job vacancies, the AMS can offer advice, training or other assistance for returning to work. Which support is appropriate depends on work experience, skills, health and opportunities in the regional labor market. The way an employment relationship ends can have practical consequences. Employees should therefore carefully review a dismissal or an offer of a mutual termination agreement before taking binding action. Unemployment is often a transitional phase and not a personal failure. An organized plan involving an overview of finances, applications, further training and support can make it easier to return to employment.