April 20, 2026
The unemployment rate among women aged 60 and 61 has more than doubled since the start of pension age adjustments in 2024, according to recent data analyzed by labor market experts.
Sharp Rise in Unemployment
The unemployment rate for 60-year-old women surged to 9.5 percent, doubling from previous levels, while for 61-year-olds, it climbed from 1.6 percent to 8.3 percent. The number of unemployed women in these age groups has increased dramatically, with 1,900 unemployed 61-year-old women recorded in recent months—ten times the figure from January 2024.
Christine Mayrhuber, chair of the Pension Security Commission, described the labor market trends as having "viel Licht, aber auch viel Schatten" ("much light, but also much shadow"). While employed women are staying in their jobs longer, those who lose their positions face significant hurdles. "Frauen, die eine Beschäftigung haben, bleiben dabei und verlängern ihre aktive Erwerbstätigkeit" ("Women who have employment are staying and extending their active working lives"), Mayrhuber said. However, she expressed concern for those who become unemployed, noting they struggle to re-enter the workforce.
The average time spent unemployed has also spiked. For 60-year-old women, the duration between entering and exiting unemployment rose from 150 days to 350 days in 2024, while for 61-year-olds, it reached 400 days.
Employment Gains Amid Challenges
Despite the rising unemployment, there has been an "unglaubliche Zunahme" ("incredible increase") in the number of employed women aged 60 and 61. In March, 44,280 women aged 60 and 20,870 aged 61 were in non-self-employed roles. This suggests a bifurcated labor market where some older women are thriving while others are left behind.