Monthly unemployment figures (total and rates, not seasonally adjusted and trend series) are computed and published on a regular basis. Starting with January 2004, time series are updated every month. Monthly unemployment figures are computed with a time lag of one month. Figures of current months are preliminary. Approximately 60 days after the end of a quarter final quarterly data and therewith also monthly figures are available. Monthly figures are transmitted to Eurostat where they are used for all further purposes, e.g. the Principle European Economic Indicators.
Due to fundamental changes of the legal basis, definitions and the organisation of the Austrian Labour Force Survey (LFS) it is essential to change the computation of monthly unemployment figures for the first months of 2021.
Until December 2020 monthly unemployment figures are directly based on survey data of the Austrian LFS. For the reference period January 2021 and the following months forecasts (based on the time series from January 2004 until December 2020) are used as estimates of monthly unemployment figures. From reference month May 2021 onwards monthly unemployment figures will be based on LFS survey data again.
Further information about the computation of monthly unemployment figures until December 2020 can be found in the Article on Monthly Unemployment Rates.
Note: Results for January 2004 until December 2020 are based
on data of the LFS which is part of the Austrian microcensus. The European
LFS is conducted in all member states of the European Union. The LFS
includes information on employment, unemployment and job-seeking. The
Austrian microcensus is a sample survey of private households where
every week approximately 1,500 households are interviewed. Monthly data
are projected to the quarterly population number.
According to the ILO definition, a person is considered to be employed
if he or she works for at least one hour during the reference week,
or does not work due to holidays, illness, etc. but normally is 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 working at short notice.
In addition to original monthly data, also adjusted data (trend series)
are shown.
Results from January 2021 onwards are forecasts.