Labour-market policy contribution (§2a AMPFG) expires end of 2026; stepped transition rates run through 2031
The 2027–2028 Budget Accompanying Act (Budgetbegleitgesetz 2027–2028, BGBl. I Nr. 62/2026) winds down the employer/employee contribution under §2a of the Labour Market Policy Financing Act (AMPFG) from 31 December 2026, replacing it with graduated transitional rates through 2031 for existing employment relationships and into 2027–2028 for new ones. Further AMPFG provisions take effect on 1 January 2027 and 1 January 2029.
What changed
§2a of the AMPFG, which levied contributions on employers and employees to fund Austria's labour-market programmes, expires on 31 December 2026. For employment relationships ongoing on that date, transitional rates apply: category Z1 rises from 0.5% (2027) to 2.5% (2031); Z2 from 1.5% (2027) to 2.5% (2029); Z3 is fixed at 2.5% in 2027. For employment relationships starting after 31 December 2026, Z1 is 1.0% in 2027 and 2.0% in 2028; Z2 is 2.0% in 2027. Additionally, §6(3), §6a, §13(2) and §15 take effect 1 January 2027, and §14(1) takes effect 1 January 2029, all under the same act.
Who is affected
Employers and employees covered by the AMPFG contribution scheme are affected, particularly those with employment relationships ongoing through 2026 or newly established from 2027 onwards. Apprentices (Lehrlinge) are subject to a special cap: their employee-side contribution rate may not exceed 1.15%.
What to look out for
The transitional rates differ depending on whether an employment relationship was already running before 1 January 2027 or starts on or after that date. Employers should identify which contribution category (Z1, Z2, or Z3) applies to their workforce and update payroll calculations from the January 2027 billing period.