Lower Austria faces rising unemployment and unfilled job vacancies

A recent KSV1870 business survey found that more than three‑quarters of firms in Lower Austria are not refilling vacant positions, and about one‑third leave the jobs permanently empty. Nine out of ten companies say recruiting is difficult despite roughly 54,000 job seekers in the region. The survey attributes the gap mainly to skill shortages and declining work morale, while high costs and weak demand force 76% of firms to cut hiring, a level two points above the national average.

Unemployment in Lower Austria rose 5.6% in the first half of 2026, bringing the number of job seekers to over 49,000. Women and older workers are disproportionately affected: female unemployment is up 8.3% versus 3.4% for men, and job seekers over 60 face longer re‑entry times. The industrial sector recorded the steepest increase in unemployment at 8.5%, while health care continues to grow. Long‑term unemployment grew 13.8% to around 7,000 people, still below the national rise. About 1,300 long‑term unemployed found jobs this year, but overall 45,000 people returned to work – a 1.8% decline from the previous year.