Older jobseekers struggle to secure interviews in Vorarlberg

People over 60 often struggle to even get job interviews, regardless of gender, Bernhard Bereuter, managing director of Austria’s Public Employment Service, told ORF Vorarlberg.

The retirement age for women is due to rise to 65 by 2033, keeping them in the labour market longer and helping ease pressure on the pension system. But many companies have little interest in employing people over 60, Bereuter said.

He said applicants were often denied an interview even when their professional qualifications matched the requirements. Bereuter urged companies to focus on candidates’ skills rather than their age when inviting them to a personal meeting.

AMS figures show that unemployment among women over 60 has increased since 2024, from six to 66. At the same time, the number of women aged 60 and above who are employed has also risen significantly, Bereuter said.

Julian Fässler, director of the Vorarlberg Chamber of Commerce, also attributed the rise in unemployment among older women to the current economic situation. However, he said there was no alternative to women retiring later.

Vorarlberg faces a difficult situation because many people are entering retirement while fewer young people are joining the workforce, Fässler said. “That does not add up if we want to maintain prosperity,” he said.