Austrian unemployment rate sees increase in July

The Austrian unemployment rate increased 0.7 percent in July year-on-year to 8.1 percent by the domestic calculation method, the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Public Employment Service Austria (AMS) stated Monday.

The rate for persons aged 50 and over once again saw a significant increase of 15.4 percent, as did persons with a disability at a 16.1 percent increase, and foreign nationals with an even greater 21.5 percent increase.

On the positive side youth unemployment increased a much lower 3.1 percent.

The average amount of time taken for the jobless to find work again also increased 17 days to 125 days, while the number of long-term unemployed, calculated as being jobless for 12 months or more, increased a massive 186 percent to 35,941 persons.

Minister for Social Affairs Rudolf Hundstorfer said continued weak economic growth coupled with a current increase in the labor supply of some 60,000 persons is responsible for the situation.