Austrian unemployment increases further in August

The Austrian unemployment rate has continued to increase in the month of August, climbing 0.8 percent to reach 8.4 percent or 384,585 people without work.

The figures released by the Public Employment Service Austria (AMS) on Tuesday also showed an 8.1 percent year-on-year increase, with no relief expected until 2016 at the earliest.

Most prominent in the statistics were the number of long-term unemployed, defined as persons registered as being out of work for 12 months or more, who spiked a massive 195.8 percent year-on-year to 39,361 persons.

Other groups with above average unemployment increases were once again persons aged 50 and over (+16.7 percent), those with a disability (+17.2 percent), and foreign nationals (+20.5 percent).

In response the Social Affairs Ministry stated there has been an increase in the number of jobs available, though without a stabilization of the economy the larger number of jobseekers cannot be covered.

Additionally calculations show that should refugees be more easily able to enter the job market, the unemployment rate is expected to increase further.

The ministry is reportedly preparing a workplace conference for autumn to tackle the problems.