Vienna man sent 640 job applications since July 2022 and remains unemployed

Ronald T., a 50-year-old resident of Vienna, has sent 640 job applications since July 2022 but remains without employment, hoping to find a stable position that would allow him to return to a regular work routine amid mounting financial and emotional pressure.

He brings 17 years of work experience and a series of additional trainings to his search. Ronald previously worked in a healthcare facility in Burgenland and later retrained in open‑source intelligence (OSINT) and criminal data analysis. Health problems interrupted his career and created gaps in his CV, and he received a rehabilitation allowance until 2023 — circumstances he believes may make employers wary.

Reflecting on his long search, Ronald says, "I am not the only one in this situation."

At present he is targeting administrative roles, ideally with the option to work from home or to be in the office no more than three days a week. His primary aim is to secure steady employment and rebuild a daily professional rhythm after years of unemployment.

Wider labour‑market context: Germany

The situation is also challenging across the border in Germany. Data from the German Federal Employment Agency show that in May the number of unemployed fell by only 12,000 — a weak spring result — leaving about 2.9 million people registered as unemployed, roughly 197,000 more than in the same period last year. The unemployment rate stands at 6.2 percent.

Andrea Nahles, head of the German Federal Employment Agency, has said the labour market does not show clear signs of recovery and warned that unemployment could rise further during the summer months.

Analysts point to several structural factors behind the weak labour market: high inflation that curbs consumer spending and slows growth; higher interest rates that reduce investment and hiring; weaker foreign demand and lower exports, which hit industrial production; and the absence this year of the usual spring hiring boost. Long‑term unemployment is a growing problem, since the longer people are out of work the harder it becomes for them to re‑enter employment.

Still, employers continue to report shortages in certain fields: healthcare (care workers and nurses), electrotechnical trades and information technology remain areas with pronounced demand for qualified staff. Companies are increasingly focused on retaining current employees because finding suitable new hires in some professions has become harder.

Ronald’s case underlines a paradox on today’s labour market — experienced and trained candidates can remain unemployed for years while some sectors struggle to recruit. Despite the long search and the 640 applications, he continues to apply and hopes a suitable opening will finally let him resume his professional life.

Photo: press material from the event