AMS Vorarlberg

Further tension on the Ländle labor market

The AMS is launching a specially tailored program for young people to prepare them for the job market.(Bild: stock.adobe.com/ehrenberg-bilder )

The Public Employment Service sees a further increase in the number of people without a job this year.

Bernhard Bereuter, head of the Vorarlberg regional organization of the Public Employment Service (AMS), did not have a very rosy outlook on Tuesday when he presented an outlook on the work priorities for 2025. Due to the modest economic situation, Bereuter expects the unemployment rate to rise this year. Although salaried employment will increase slightly (+0.1%), the non-market-oriented sectors of healthcare and social services will be primarily responsible for this. In the construction sector and export-oriented industry, however, the weak economic development will continue to affect demand for personnel, which will put additional pressure on the labor market. "Against this backdrop, we anticipate a further increase in unemployment of around 500 people (+4.9%) in Vorarlberg," explains Bereuter. In 2024, 10,268 people were affected by unemployment.

In 2025, it is planned that more than 19,500 people will be included in labor market policy measures.

AMS-Chef Bernhard Bereuter

Qualification as a permanent challenge
The AMS wants to counteract this trend with a budget of 41.4 million euros. 54 percent of the budget will be used for qualification programs, 31 percent for employment measures and around 14 percent for support services. People with health problems, older people, the low-skilled and the long-term unemployed continue to have the greatest difficulties on the labor market. Qualification, advice and wage cost subsidies for companies are intended to increase the chances of these people entering the job market.

Bereuter expects that "more than 19,500 people will be included in labor market policy measures this year." This should also help to eliminate the shortage of skilled workers. A new project is Clocks, which aims to integrate young people into the labor market. The project sponsor is Aqua Mühle. From April to December, 180 young people are to be coached. 1.2 million euros have been budgeted for this.