Unemployment Benefits in Austria
In Austria the public employment service AMS pays unemployment benefit (Arbeitslosengeld) to people who have worked enough insured weeks and are able, willing and available to work.
✓ From official pages ✓ Each part says when we checked
At a glance
AMS (Arbeitsmarktservice)
The job market in Austria
The International Labour Organization's estimates put Austria 105th lowest of 183 countries for unemployment in 2025; the world's rate was 4.9%.
Austria's unemployment rate over the years · every country, ranked
What to do first
- Register with the public employment service, Arbeitsmarktservice (AMS). Official page
- Apply for Unemployment benefit (Arbeitslosengeld): apply online with an eAMS (MeinAMS) account, or in person at an AMS office. Official page
- Keep up with the job-search rule while you claim (below), and keep a record of where you applied.
- Search the government's job listings on AMS ALLE JOBS. Official page
Unemployment benefit (Arbeitslosengeld)
Who can get it. As a rule, 52 weeks of insured work in the last 24 months; able to work, willing to work and unemployed.
How much. The base amount is 55% of net income (Der Grundbetrag Ihres Arbeitslosengeldes ist 55 % dieses Netto-Einkommens).
For how long. As a rule 20 weeks; rises to 30, 39 or 52 weeks depending on insured time and age.
How to claim. Apply online with an eAMS (MeinAMS) account, or in person at an AMS office.
From an official page, read October 25, 2026.
Looking for work while you claim
Claimants must be able and willing to work and available to the labour market without significant restrictions.
From an official page, read October 25, 2026.
Keep my work search record for Austria
Free. It lists where you applied and what else you did to look for work, each line ready to copy into the form you report on. It is your own record: we send nothing to any government.
Help finding work
- The public employment service: Arbeitsmarktservice (AMS)
- The government's job listings: AMS ALLE JOBS
Questions
Is there unemployment benefit in Austria?
Yes: Unemployment benefit (Arbeitslosengeld), paid by AMS (Arbeitsmarktservice).
How much is unemployment benefit in Austria?
The base amount is 55% of net income (Der Grundbetrag Ihres Arbeitslosengeldes ist 55 % dieses Netto-Einkommens).
How long does unemployment benefit last in Austria?
As a rule 20 weeks; rises to 30, 39 or 52 weeks depending on insured time and age.
How do I claim unemployment benefit in Austria?
Apply online with an eAMS (MeinAMS) account, or in person at an AMS office.
Do I have to look for work while I claim in Austria?
Claimants must be able and willing to work and available to the labour market without significant restrictions.
Where can I get help finding a job in Austria?
The public employment service is Arbeitsmarktservice (AMS). The government lists jobs on AMS ALLE JOBS.
Nearby countries
Belgium
France
Germany
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Monaco
Netherlands
Switzerland
Where this comes from
Every part of this page was read on an official website, and each links the page it came from and the day we checked it. Rules and amounts change, so check that page before you rely on a figure. Jobareer is not part of any government and cannot see or change a claim.
See also: unemployment rate by country · Austria's unemployment rate · unemployment in the US, state by state.