Background information

The COVID-19 crisis has pushed many people into (long-term) unemployment. Although the number of unemployed has decreased since the country began to reopen in May 2021, the rate of unemployment is still higher than it was before the crisis. More than one third of the registered unemployed people have been unemployed for more than 12 months (i.e. long-term unemployed).

In order to bring those people back in employment, the Public Employment Service (AMS) started the initiative "springboard" ("Sprungbrett"). This is a subsidised labour market integration benefit for long-term unemployed. It is implemented by the regional AMS offices.

The programme includes integration assistance in the form of subsidies for wage and ancillary wage costs for the company, subsidised work training, counselling and support services as well as the possibility of non-profit labour leasing (temporary work agencies). Furthermore, employees can also take advantage of the combination wage assistance.

Content of measure

"SPRUNGBRETT" Subsidies for wage and ancillary wage costs for the company:

The programme targets people who are acutely threatened by long-term unemployment and who have been registered as unemployed for more than 365 days. An employment relationship is to be established that covers at least 50% of the full-time (statutory or collectively agreed) weekly working hours.

For female employees, employers receive funding for up to eight months, for male employees for up to six months, in the amount of two thirds (66.7%) of the assessment basis (which lies at a maximum of €3,750 per month). Total funding for females thus lies at €30,000, for men at €22,500.

"SPRUNGBRETT" Work training:

Work training is targeted to acquire practical experience after completing vocational training, to train skills and abilities, and to prepare for a job position in a company. The PES Vienna secures the financial existence of the trainees with a so-called "subsistence allowance" and provides health, accident and pension insurance. No costs for the company are incurred. The work training can be taken up to a duration of of up to 13 weeks.

"SPRUNGBRETT" Non-Profit Temporary Employment Agency

Companies can also hire new employees for a limited period of time via a temporary staff leasing. This can be accompanied by an optional offer of ongoing personal and professional support.

"SPRUNGBRETT" Support and accompanying counselling at the workplace

If required, the regional PES office Vienna provides accompanying support at the training or workplace through a counselling and support service. This offer is free for companies.

The goal of the initiative overall is to re-integrate 50,000 long-term unemployed into the labour market by the end of 2022.

Use of measure

As of mid-December 2021, according to the Minister of Labour, long-term unemployment had fallen by 37,000 since April. A large part of this could be traced back to the “Springboard” initiative.

According to the General Secretary of the Federal Economic Chamber (WKO), Mr Kopf, the goal of reducing the number of long-term unemployed by 50,000 was reached in May 2022.

By the end of 2022, over 47,000 people had received funding under this programme, with a total of €345.4 million in funding which have been paid out. Compared to the peak in April 2021, long-term unemployment fell by 65,814 people by the end of 2022, which can be attributed to this programme.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Unemployed	Applies to all businesses	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Local / regional government Public employment service	National funds Regional funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Unknown	Unknown
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Unknown
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

The social partners are represented in the supervisory board of the national and regional Public Employment Service (AMS) and are thus by definition of their role involved to some degree in the implementation.

Views and reactions

Not available.

Sources

• 20 April 2021: Springboard programme (www.bma.gv.at)
• 20 September 2021: SPRUNGBOARD initiative: New information sheets on funding opportunities (www.ams.at)
• 14 December 2021: Lockdown effect on unemployment low (apa.at)
• 17 May 2022: We need to build on the success of the springboard labour market programme (news.wko.at)
• 10 May 2023: Springboard programme successful (www.bmaw.gv.at)