Industrial Regions Enjoy Growth Edge in Stagnant Economy. Business Development in the Austrian Länder in 2013

Gross value added grew at a slow rate everywhere in Austria, due to the fact that exports, the traditional drivers of growth, failed as propellant. The brightening of national and international prospects in the second half of the year helped industrial regions, gaining them a slight growth edge overall in 2013. In the labour market, the weak economy was reflected in a minor increase in employment only and a substantial rise in unemployment, which tended to be more intense in urban regions.