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Employment service ordered to repay €135m for benefit errors

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The Public Employment Service (AMS) must repay €135 million to 100,000 people after miscalculating unemployment benefits for three years. The service will have to find the money from its own budget, a penalty for an administrative error that leaves the state’s job agency owing its own clients.

Applicants over 55 report being increasingly rejected by automated software or ignored by recruiters despite a shortage of skilled workers. This growing trend has left a significant portion of the older workforce in a vocational vacuum, finding themselves too old for a new contract but too young for a pension.

After one month, the new package tax is already being weighed for its costs against its benefits. Elsewhere, a poll found a quarter of voters want Norbert Hofer to run for president again, though the candidate himself has been busy suggesting the opposite on social media.

Top stories

Public Employment Service Ordered to Repay Unemployment Benefits

The Austrian Public Employment Service (AMS) has been mandated to repay 135 million euros to 100,000 individuals due to incorrectly calculated unemployment benefits over the past three years. The repayment will come directly from the AMS's own budget.

Die Presse AMS Must Repay 135 Million Euros from Own Budget ↗

Age Discrimination and Employment Challenges for Older Workers

Despite a shortage of skilled workers, applications from job seekers over 55 are increasingly being automatically rejected or ignored. This creates a growing problem for individuals who are too old for new employment but too young for a pension, a dilemma that politicians have largely neglected.

Initial Impact of Austria's New Package Tax

An analysis of the first month since the introduction of Austria's new 'package tax' explores its financial implications, revealing both losses and perceived relief for various entities.

profil One Month of Package Tax: Between Losses and Relief ↗

Public Sentiment on Presidential Candidates and Head of State Power

A recent poll indicates that 25% of Austrians would like Norbert Hofer to run for president again, despite his social media statements suggesting otherwise. Additionally, the role and significant power of the current Austrian Head of State are being questioned, with 44% desiring more direct involvement in daily politics.

DER STANDARD One in Four Want Norbert Hofer to Run for President Again ↗

Changing Clientele at Austrian Ski Resorts Due to High Prices

Rising costs associated with skiing in Austria are reportedly leading to a shift in the demographic of visitors to the country's ski slopes, impacting the traditional clientele.

ORF Austrian Ski Resorts Face New Clientele Due to High Prices ↗

Vulnerability to Cyber Attacks in Austria

An analysis of cybercrime within Austria suggests that individuals and organizations are often too easily susceptible to online attacks, highlighting a need for improved digital security practices.

profil Cyber Attacks in Austria: Why We Too Easily Help Attackers ↗