Organisation
The Public Employment Service AMS is structured into 1 federal, 9 regional and 100 local organisations. Representatives of employers’ and labour organisations (i.e. of the Economic Chamber, the Federal Chamber of Labour, the Austrian Trade Union Federation and the Federation of Austrian Industry) are involved at all levels and are instrumental in designing labour market policies (employment programmes of the federal provinces) and in monitoring the organisation’s corporate governance. The body acting at the federal level is the administrative board.
The following executive bodies are in charge of the tasks conveyed to the AMS:
- The board of directors at the federal level,
- The provincial directors at the provincial level,
- The regional directors at the regional level.
In implementing labour market policies, these executive bodies can rely on various sub-offices. Local branch offices of the AMS exist in all 9 federal provinces of Austria.
Federal organisation
The federal organisation consists of the administrative board and the board of directors. It is charged with guaranteeing that uniform procedures are applied throughout Austria in all fundamental matters and is responsible for all affairs which extend beyond the provincial level.
In addition to exercising its coordination and control functions, the federal organisation is also tasked with creating the framework conditions required for decentralised implementation of labour market policy.
Administrative Board
It comprises a maximum of 12 members.
Board of Directors
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Herbert Buchinger
Member of the Board
Johannes Kopf
Roles of the various offices
Federal head office
The head office staff are responsible for management, controlling, follow-up, evaluation, business environment analysis and strategies.
Their aims are:
- to meet the labour market policy aims of the FMEAL
- to decide priority labour market policy programmes for the AMS
- to lay down standard regulations concerning organisation, personnel, facilities, basic research and statistics
- to supervise of the board of directors/provincial directors
Provincial offices
There are 9 provincinal offices, one in each province of Austria.
Their tasks:
- elaborating labour market policy aims for respective regions
- co-ordinating the AMS with other institutions of the province
- labour market monitoring and statistics, research and development
- setting framework conditions
- supporting regional branch offices
Regional branch offices
There are employment offices in nearly all municipalities.
Regional branch offices offer information, counselling and support in case of special needs and continuous assistance (claims and benefits, guidance).
The services of the AMS are not for the unemployed only. Persons who have a job but want a change of occupation can also turn to the Employment Service, which offers recruitment and placement services for employers as well.
Structure of the regional branch offices
| Zone | Services offered | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Info Zone |
information self-service career information centres (BIZ) |
anonymous |
| Service Zone |
placement claims and benefits |
contacts without appointment |
| Counselling Zone |
intensive guidance and assistance |
contacts by appointment only arrangement of appointments |
Career information centres (BIZ)
These centres offer to all those interested, in particular to unemployed people and gainfully employed jobseekers, first-time workers, people changing job, school-leavers and so forth, detailed information about various professions, employment opportunities as well as training and further training. Information about the labour market and future job prospects is also available.
What you will find in the career information centres
- Information maps and brochures with information on apprenticeship positions, school training courses, colleges, polytechnic college courses, academic professions, university degree courses, classes, courses and employment possibilities
- Career information online with key information on occupations, job prospects, training and further training
- PCs to search for open apprenticeships and jobs in Austria and in Europe
- Occupational interest tests
- A video library with a wide selection of films about various occupations. Services specific to a particular region such as exhibits, fairs and events about specific occupations, etc.