The Corona year had an enormous impact on this year's economy. New concepts had to be developed, including that of short-time work.
Around 1.16 million Austrians were on short-time work this year. Almost 5.5 billion euros have been billed so far, with the peak in April. However, applications can still be submitted for autumn.
As can be seen from a list by the Ministry of Labor, 5.2 billion euros were paid out for the first six months. A good two thirds of the originally requested funds were actually used up, in Vienna this proportion was highest.
Most people had to go on short-time work in goods production, around 300,000 there were. Another 275,000 had to switch to short-time working in retail. In comparison, short-time working in the hotel and catering industry as well as in construction was used less intensively, with just over 100,000 people affected. But there was a strong shift over time.
While retail accounted for a third of all short-time jobs in spring, goods manufacturing was hardest hit in autumn. In contrast, there was a sharp decline in the number of apprentices: while 48,000 were still on short-time work in April, the number of those affected fell to just under 4,000 by September.
The peak of short-time work was undoubtedly reached in April, when 1.86 billion euros were billed for short-time work in that month alone. Even in May, 1.25 billion euros flowed. Thereafter, there was a steady decline until September; no reliable figures are yet available for the second lockdown phase in autumn, as further applications can be submitted.
The average income of people on short-time work rose slightly over the course of the year. In April, the median income (half earned more, half less) was 2,250 euros. By September the median income rose to 2,380 euros.
According to the Ministry of Labor, companies are making greater use of short-time working to retain skilled workers. The reduction in working hours, however, declined. In March, the companies that used short-time work reduced their working hours by around 70 percent, in the fall, however, only by 43 percent.
“With the short-time work we have ensured that the companies and their employees can continue to work. It is also positive that it was possible to work a third more than originally approved,” said Labor Minister Christine Aschbacher (ÖVP) about the figures. She reminded that short-time work would continue in 2021.
