AK President Stangl: “More than a third of people are now living worse with their income than a year ago”

Linz (OTS) – According to the latest data from Statistics Austria, in the first quarter of 2024, more than a third (35%) of the adult population aged 18 to 74 had worse income than a year ago. Among families affected by unemployment, this figure is almost half (46%). “Politicians must finally take sustainable measures to make life affordable“, says AK President Andreas Stangl.

People are getting into financial difficulties, especially because of higher spending on housing, energy and food. Half of those affected are forced to limit their consumption of food, clothing and other goods.

Overall, household incomes have increased for almost half of the Austrian population (49%), for example due to wage and salary increases, but even of these people, more than a fifth (22%) say that they are getting by less with their income a year ago. And among those whose household income has fallen, that is one in five (21%), almost three quarters are living worse than they were a year ago.

The demands of the AK Upper Austria

• Rent brake (increase basic rents only once per year by a maximum of 2%)
• Introduction of a housing bonus (in the amount of ten percent of housing costs up to a maximum of 800 euros for all employees)
• Energy price cap (price caps for electricity supply & heating based on wholesale prices and taking into account excess profits achieved)
• Benefits of the third third of the abolished cold progression for those employees with low or middle incomes

Questions & Contact:

Chamber of Labor Upper Austria – Communication
Mag. Michael Petermair
+43 (0)50 6906 2190
michael.petermair@akooe.at
ooe.arbeiterkammer.at