© europics.at

17. 12. 09. - 16:00

• more Business news
• RSS Feed Business

17. 12. 09. - 16:00

Labour market worsens

By David Rogers

Austrian labour market conditions worsened in the third quarter of 2009 with fewer jobs and more employees in part-time work, according to figures released today (Thurs).

Statistik Austria reported that the number of employees in part-time work had climbed to 51,400 in the third quarter as the number of fully-employed people dropped by 70,400 compared to the same quarter last year.

The number of people with jobs dropped 19,000 year on year to 4,119,000 in the quarter, the agency said.

The rate of unemployment at the end of the third quarter was 5.1 per cent, compared to 3.7 per cent a year earlier, leaving 221,800 people unemployed at the end of September 2009. The increase mainly affected men, younger age workers, foreigners and people looking for their first job, the agency said.

The rate of unemployment at the end of the third quarter was highest in Vienna - 8.2 per cent - and lowest in Salzburg - 2.9 per cent, it added.

Statistik Austria noted that the decline of jobs varied considerably according to the sector in question. While there were 61,800 more jobs in the services sector at the end of the third quarter compared to the same time last year, there were 74,300 fewer jobs in industry and trade and 6,600 fewer jobs in agriculture.

The number of hours of overtime worked in the third quarter was 78 million, seven million fewer than in the same quarter last year, the agency reported.

The agency painted a rather sombre picture, but things may get worse before they get better in the labour market since more than one in ten Austrian companies is planning lay-offs in the first three months of next year, according to a new survey.

Erich Pichorner, CEO of personnel-service provider Manpower, which questioned 751 recruitment departments’ chiefs for its study, said earlier this month that 12 per cent of firms planned to sack staff in the first three months of 2010. He added, however, that 11 per cent planned to take on additional staff in the first quarter of next year.

The Manpower CEO said the energy sector and public services were currently the job market’s "engines".

Austrian Times

Related articles: crisis

1. Doomed Triumph staff to work part time

   » Business 2010-09-02

   Employees at underwear and lingerie manufacturer Triumph International AG’s Hartberg factory will work part time for the next few months, it has been revealed just weeks after firm chiefs announced plans to lay off every [...]

2. Denying Greece support 'dangerous', Pröll warns

   » General News 2010-09-02

   People’s Party (ÖVP) Vice Chancellor Josef Pröll has warned of "dangerous developments" as European Union (EU) member states have backed out of the previously agreed upon support package for Greece.

3. Obama does not care about Europe, says Prodi

   » General News 2010-09-01

   Former European Commission (EC) president Romano Prodi has caused controversy by claiming US President Barack Obama did not care about Europe.

4. Faymann adamant about financial transactions levy

   » General News 2010-09-01

   Social Democratic (SPÖ) Chancellor Werner Faymann has pledged to press on with attempts to introduce a Europe-wide tax on financial transactions.

5. Bitter first six months for Manner

   » Business 2010-08-31

   Vienna sweets producer Manner suffered a decline in turnover in the first half of 2010.

6. Porr hit by earnings decline

   » Business 2010-08-31

   Porr said the construction industry was "facing the biggest challenges in decades" as the firm presented a decline in earnings and turnover today (Tues).

7. Hungarian bank tax a 'prime example for a misguided measure'

   » Business 2010-08-31

   Raiffeisen International (RI) boss Herbert Stepic has launched an exceptional attack on the Hungarian government over its decision to set up a bank levy.

8. Strabag reduces its losses

   » Business 2010-08-31

   Strabag SE – Austria’s biggest construction firm – managed to reduce its losses in the first half of this year.

9. Private phone directory service is broke

   » Business 2010-08-31

   Austria’s first private telephone directory assistance hotline Alles Auskunft – 11 88 99 has gone bust.

10. Mayors may slash culture spending, poll shows

    » General News 2010-08-30

    A vast majority of the mayors of Austria’s debt-ridden towns could imagine cutting back subsidies for cultural events.

One in five firms hit by business crimes, says expert
One in five companies are affected by business felonies, according to an internationally-linked detectives body.

Autopsy as Turk trucker found dead
An autopsy has been ordered after the body of a truck driver was found on the Austrian-Hungarian border.

ÖIAG boss hit by mail expenses claims
Austrian industry-holding stock corporation (ÖIAG) chief Peter Michaelis is in hot water amid claims taxpayers’ money was used to pay for shipping of private goods.

Vienna police present hotel safety initiative
Vienna police have announced plans to cooperate with the city’s hotels more closely in a bid to tackle crime.

Strache on Hussein-Haider files as Vienna stink bomb campaign starts
Freedom Party (FPÖ) leader Heinz-Christian Strache has revealed having been offered files allegedly confirming Jörg Haider received money from Saddam Hussein.

Bear killer suspect expelled from hunters union
A man accused of killing a brown bear has been excluded from the Carinthian Hunters Association.

Another coming out of transsexual teacher
Austria has seen a second case of a once male teacher set to return after the summer holidays to school as a woman.

Adamovich hits out at judges for acquitting Kampusch kidnapper's pal
The former head of a special Natascha Kampusch investigation group has criticised judges for discharging her kidnapper’s best mate of complicity in suicide charges.

Vöcklabruck tap water clean, second test shows
Residents of an Upper Austrian town have been given the go ahead to drink tap water after a recent study found it contained bacteria.

BMW X3 production shifted from Graz
BMW has relocated production of a new Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) from Austria to the United States.