Labor market under pressure: experts give tips for 2025!

Labor market under pressure: experts give tips for 2025!

The situation on the labor market remains tense and the numbers speak for themselves. At the end of November, almost 384,000 people were looking for work in Austria, which corresponds to a worrying increase of 8.9 percent compared to the previous year, according to the crown reported. Despite these frightening statistics, industry experts are not discouraged and advise those affected to actively work on their professional situation. AMS board member Johannes Kopf emphasizes that there are opportunities even in times of crisis: "There are companies that are growing and advertising new positions. Thousands of people start a new position every day."

Short-time work on the rise

Another alarm sign is the increase in short-time work. In September, 268,000 employees received short-time work benefits, an increase compared to 175,000 in August. According to estimates by the Federal Employment Agency, 64,000 people were reported to be on short-time work from November 1st to 25th. This shows a falling demand for workers, which is also reflected in the BA's job index: This fell by two points to just 105 points in November, the lowest level since April 2021. In all sectors of the economy, with the exception of the energy and water industries, the demand for new employees has fallen compared to the previous year, according to the Mirror reported.

The clear message from the experts is that despite the challenging circumstances, initiative is required. They recommend that employees actively seek further training and, if necessary, set new professional goals for the coming year. In times like these, it becomes clear that personal responsibility and adaptability are crucial in order to meet the demands of the labor market.