Press release: 12.336-176/20

Hours worked in trade and services decreased in the first half of 2020

Vienna, 2020-10-05 – In the first half of 2020, hours worked fell by 11.5% in trade and by 20.3% in services, according to calculations by Statistics Austria. Compared to the first half of 2019, wages and salaries dropped by 0.4% in trade enterprises and by 3.4% in service enterprises. The number of persons employed declined in the same period by 2.2% in trade and by 8.3% in services.

The main reason for this decrease is the shutdown of a large part of the enterprises and the resulting short-time work as part of the measures to contain the corona pandemic.

Results were calculated by Statistics Austria, Short Term Statistics Trade and Services.

For more detailed information please refer to the German version.