Economically active population
In 2010, 4 284 600 economically active (2 302 200 men, 1 982 400 women) were identified in the Austrian Labour Force Survey (LFS), which was conducted according to the international Labour Force Concept (ILO definition). Economically actives constitute the total number of employed and unemployed persons and, if unemployment is regarded as a short term interruption to employment, reflect the segment of the population that is actively involved in the workforce. The number of economically active persons has increased steadily over the past decade. The slight decline from 2003 to 2004 is partly attributable to the restructuring of the Micro census. Over the previous year the number stayed at the same level.
With respect to professional status in the actual
job, or, for unemployed, in the last job, 569 100 people were self-employed
or family workers in 2010, while 3 690 400 people were employees. The
proportion of self-employed
or family workers was thus around 13.0%, while employees constituted 86.0%. White collar workers represented the majority of economically
active with
More than two thirds of the economically active population
(69.2% or 2 966 000) were engaged in the service sector in 2010, while industry and manufacturing industries
accounted for nearly one quarter (24.7% or 1 060 200). Only one economically
active person in 20 (5.3% or 226 400) worked in agriculture and forestry.
The distribution of economically active between the three sectors shows
a significant increase in the service sector over the past decade (since
2000:
The activity rate for 15 to 64 year olds was 75.1% in 2010; the figure for men was 80.9% and the figure for women was 69.3%. Over the past few years, trends in labour force participation have differed for men and women. For men, the activity rate was 79.9% in 2000 and was slightly higher in 2010 (80.9%). For women, on the other hand, there was an increase of 7.5 percentage points, with this increase applying to middle aged women in particular. The activity rate for 45 to 49 year old women was 75.7% in 2000, and by 2010 it had already reached 84.6%. The highest level of labour force participation was recorded for the age group from 40 to 44 years, with a figure of 90.3% (men 94.4%, women 86.2%).
Note: Under the Labour Force Concept (ILO definition) a person is considered to be employed if he or she worked for at least one hour in the reference week, or did not work due to holiday, illness, etc. but is normally in employment. A person is considered to be unemployed if he or she is not employed in the above sense, is taking active steps to look for work and is able to start work at short notice. In the subsistence concept, respondents specify their social status themselves. In principle, the data relates to the population living in private households without persons performing military or community service. People with valid employment contracts who are drawing maternity/paternity or child benefit are included in the category of employed persons.
Please consult our German website for tables and charts containing further information.
| Results (overview): economically active population |  |  |  |
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