Unemployment rises sharply among women over 50 in Burgenland

Unemployment in Austria is rising, particularly among women, ORF reports. In Burgenland, the number of unemployed men rose by 2.3% last month, while the figure for women increased by 5.9%. Women over 50 face particular difficulties finding work.

Andrea B., 56, lost her job at a factory this year after nearly four decades there. She said competitive and cost pressures were behind her dismissal. Although it was her first period of unemployment, she found many companies were not interested in hiring her.

“I have older people in my family who also can’t find a job, even though they’ve been trying for years,” she said. She had not expected it to be so difficult to find work at her age.

Helene Sengsbratl, regional head of the Public Employment Service, urged women over 50 not to focus on retirement and to consider learning new skills. She said studies show that people who remain unemployed for a long time can lose hope of finding work. Many also face health problems, caring responsibilities or are reluctant to learn something new.

Andrea said she was willing to learn and had hoped to train as a home-care assistant, but there were currently no jobs of that kind in Burgenland. After two months of actively searching, she now has the prospect of a job at a dry cleaner.

Sengsbratl also called on companies to give older women a chance, saying wage subsidies are available and that a probationary period limits the risk for employers. The federal government is providing a further 50 million euros for the Aktion 55plus employment initiative.