Press release: 12.477-068/21

Turnover in industry and construction increased by 2.0% in December 2020; decline in turnover in whole year 2020; turnover recovery for February 2021

Vienna, 2021-03-30 – A total of 66 162 enterprises in the entire industry and construction sector (+0.1% compared to the previous year) turned over €281.8 bn (-6.8%) in the whole year 2020, according to calculations by Statistics Austria. The working-day adjusted turnover for industry and construction decreased by 7.2%. These figures coupled with a slightly decreasing employment (956 029 persons, -0.8%). In December 2020 turnover increased by 2.0% compared to the same month of the previous year (working-day adjusted: -0.8%).

"The corona pandemic had a firm grip on Austrian enterprises in 2020: The year closed with a 6.8% drop in turnover. In particular, the manufacture of machinery and motor vehicles as well as the metal industry had to record significant losses. Flash estimates for February 2021 show a recovery: The turnover index for industry and construction increased by 5.1% compared to the same month of the previous year," says Statistics Austria Director General Tobias Thomas

At establishment level (66 724 establishments, +0.1%), sold production decreased by 7.3% (working-day adjusted: -7.6%) in comparison to previous year's level and amounted to €277.5 bn in nominal terms (employing 955 849 persons, -0.7%). With €225.1 bn in nominal terms, industrial production sold fell by 8.2% compared to the previous year. Compared to the same month last year (December 2019), sold production increased by 2.0% (working-day adjusted: -0.9%) in industry and construction.

The 36 548 Austrian construction establishments (+0.5%) achieved a production sold of €52.4 bn in the reporting period January to December 2020. This corresponds to a decrease of 3.1% in nominal terms (working-day adjusted: -3.5%) compared to the previous year. In December 2020 production sold decreased by 3.7% (working-day adjusted: -6.2%).

At the end of December 2020, Austrian construction companies (not including construction auxiliary trades) had orders booked totalling about €15.2 bn (+2.7% year-over-year).

The flash estimates for industry and construction (ÖNACE B to F) for February 2021 show an increase of the turnover index (5.1%), a moderate decrease of the index of persons employed (-1.4%) and a decrease of the index of hours worked (-1.0%) compared to the same month of the previous year.

If the industrial and the construction sector are considered separately, the turnover index shows an increase in industry (6.0%), in construction, however, there is a negative development (-2.3%) to the previous year. The index of hours worked declines in industry (-1.3%), in construction there is a positive development (0.9%). The index of persons employed shows a slight decline in industry (-1.5%) as well as in construction (-1.0%).

For more detailed information please refer to the German version or our German website.