With a package of measures worth 50.8 million euros, the state and AMS want to make the unemployed fit for the labor market. It’s all about qualification.
Contrary to what was expected in view of the corona pandemic, the labor market in Vorarlberg developed very well in 2022. On average over the year, 8,975 people were registered with the AMS Vorarlberg as looking for work, 22.8 percent fewer than the year before. The problem today is not unemployment, but rather the lack of skilled workers and workers. “In my view, there are three correct answers: qualify, qualify, qualify,” said Governor Markus Wallner at a press conference on Tuesday. He stated that the ambitious goal was to keep the number of unemployed under 10,000 permanently by 2023. Focus on the unemployed without a qualification The Managing Director of AMS Vorarlberg, Bernhard Bereuter, sees the greatest potential in the state in combating the shortage of staff in the unemployed without a qualification. “In 2022, 45 percent of all those registered had at most one compulsory school certificate,” calculated Bereuter. As a percentage, this number is even increasing. His goal is therefore to “bring more people towards the completion of their apprenticeship”. The labor market measures of the state and AMS Vorarlberg, which are endowed with a total of 50.8 million euros this year, should also contribute to this. EUR 22.1 million of this goes to jointly financed projects. The AMS puts 25.6 million euros into its own qualification projects, 3.1 million euros are allocated to the state’s labor market policy measures. The main focus is on supporting young people, the long-term unemployed and those with few qualifications. Within the framework of this model, unemployed people can catch up on their apprenticeship qualification. During their training, they receive a scholarship in addition to unemployment benefits. This will be increased from 200 to 400 euros for 2023. “This is intended to secure livelihoods during training,” explained Bereuter. Wallner is targeting pensioners. “If we want this prosperity to continue, we have to pull out all the stops to have enough skilled workers in the future,” he emphasizes. He sees one way in the federal government to reconsider the deductions for people who “voluntarily” want to work a few more hours in their company after retirement. AMS boss Bereuter sees no problem in this: “If the labor market develops almost as expected , I am not assuming that other employees will be squeezed out by working pensioners.” Wallner also welcomes measures aimed at aligning the statutory retirement age with the actual retirement age. “There is great potential here,” says Wallner.
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