VIENNA — Austria is witnessing a troubling rise in long-term unemployment, with nearly 94,000 people out of work for more than a year; the highest figure since 2022. Data from the Public Employment Service (AMS) show that in September 2025, 93,790 Austrians had been jobless for over twelve months, marking a 13 percent increase compared with the previous year, according to 5 Minuten. The sharpest increases were recorded in Upper Austria, Salzburg, and Styria.
The social enterprise network arbeit plus warned that the growing number of long-term unemployed threatens both social cohesion and economic stability. “This development endangers the country’s social fabric and its competitiveness,” said Manuela Vollmann, chairwoman of arbeit plus. She urged greater cooperation between policymakers, businesses, and labor agencies, along with sustained investment to help people re-enter the workforce.
Experts say the crisis disproportionately affects older workers, people with health limitations, and those with few qualifications. Many of them want to work but struggle with rigid job conditions, limited childcare options, or caregiving duties. “They’re not lacking motivation — they’re lacking opportunities,” said Sabine Rehbichler, managing director of arbeit plus Austria.
Amid the bleak figures, social enterprises are offering a glimmer of hope through “green jobs” — work tied to reuse, repair, and recycling initiatives that combine ecological goals with social inclusion. Rehbichler said such jobs “give people perspective and purpose,” while Vollmann called for stronger recognition and funding of these efforts.
Arbeit plus has proposed a threefold response: secure long-term funding, improve coordination between government levels, and create stable positions within social enterprises to preserve skills and restore livelihoods.
