Migrant unemployment rising in Austria, Syrians dominate statistics

Unemployment among migrants in Austria has reached new records. Their share of total unemployment has risen from 34.2 per cent to 43.2 per cent in six years. The hardest hit are Syrians, whose number out of work has almost doubled since 2019, reports the European Conservative.

The reasons are clear, according to the Austrian Labour Office (AMS): low education, poor German language skills and persistently high migration. The problem is particularly concentrated in Vienna, where new arrivals with low qualifications are struggling and demands on the welfare system are rising.

Up to 48 per cent of unemployed foreigners have only completed compulsory education, which reduces their chances of stable employment, especially during the recession.

Unemployment has been rising for 31 months without interruption, and a reversal is not expected until mid-2026 at the earliest, according to forecasts. The worsening situation shows that this is not a short-term blip, but a deep structural problem.

(mja)