Labour market

Statistics on the labour market initially provide information about labour force supply and demand. Statistics on the labour force supply subdivide the population according to activity status (economically actives, not economically actives). Results on employment and unemployment are for the most part available according to two different definitions: the Labour Force Concept (ILO definition), which can be used for international comparisons, and national definitions (employment that is subject to social insurance contributions and which is registered at the main social insurance organisation, or unemployed persons who are registered at the Austrian Public Employment Service).

Statistics on job vacancies have to date only been compiled in Austria for 2004. The legal framework for an EU-wide survey on vacancies is currently being prepared.

Apart from society’s interest in the situation and the development of the labour market, labour market data and analyses also form the basis for decisions on labour market policy. An EU-wide harmonised database on labour market policy in the member states aims to evaluate labour market policies at European level.