Styria under pressure: 43,000 unemployed – what happens next in the job market?

Styria under pressure: 43,000 unemployed – what happens next in the job market?

There are alarming developments in the labor market in Styria that are putting a heavy burden on the region. According to the AMS Styria, 35,120 people were already registered as unemployed at the end of November 2024, which corresponds to an increase of 4,635 people or 15.2 percent compared to the previous year. Including the 8,567 training participants, there are a total of 43,687 people unemployed, which corresponds to an increase of 11.7 percent compared to November 2023, according to the Small newspaper reported.

Ukrainian workers in focus

Amid this turbulent situation, AMS boss Karl-Heinz Snobe is focusing on the potential of Ukrainian refugees in the region. Currently, of the 6,000 Ukrainians living in primary care, 2,000 are children and 1,000 people are of retirement age. Snobe estimates that up to 3,000 of these people could be placed in jobs through the AMS if support for Ukrainians is adjusted accordingly. He emphasizes that the aim is to end the basic care system in order to transfer these people to social assistance, which would trigger the obligation to provide employment. Snobe is optimistic that many Ukrainians, especially women and younger people with small children, are willing to build a life in Styria and take long-term jobs, especially in the health and service sectors, where a large number of them are already employed. This information comes from ORF Styria.

The employment situation remains tense, and Snobe warns that the AMS structures are being overloaded due to the constantly increasing numbers. The pressure on the AMS is growing as the number of unemployed is expected to continue to rise. The region faces a double challenge: integrating refugees into the labor market and coping with growing unemployment.