Labor Market Policy

New "Integration Service for Skilled Workers" Opened in Austria

The Federal Minister for Women, Family, Integration and Media, Susanne Raab, visited the newly founded "Integration Service for Skilled Workers". The facility serves as a central point of contact for qualified skilled workers and their families as well as for companies operating in Austria. The service includes advice, information, and events on topics such as pre-integration, living and working in Austria as well as German language courses.

November 2, 2023

Skills Shortage in Austria: Companies Feel Pressure, But Also Opportunities

A recent study by the recruiting platform Stepstone shows that the shortage of skilled workers is leaving a clear mark on Austria's companies. Two-thirds of respondents are concerned about the additional workload caused by unfilled positions. This is despite a slight increase in advertised vacancies of 2 percent in the first half of the year, with some sectors such as engineering, care, and construction even seeing significant increases.

September 13, 2023

Austrian Government Aims to Increase Skilled Immigration and Address Labor Shortages

The Austrian government, led by Economy and Labor Minister Martin Kocher, plans to attract a minimum of 15,000 skilled workers from non-EU countries to Austria annually by 2027 through the Red White Red card (Rot-Weiß-Rot Karte) program.

July 18, 2023

Vienna Expands German Learning Support for EU Expats

Are you a newly arrived EU citizen in Vienna and struggling to learn German? The good news is that the city of Vienna is expanding its language learning support program, the Wiener Sprachgutschein, to include EU citizens. This means that you will now have access to the same level of funding as non-EU citizens for German language courses.

May 8, 2023

Unrestricted Access to the Austrian Labor Market for Displaced Ukrainians

Displaced Ukrainians in Austria will gain unrestricted access to the labor market, according to an amendment by the social committee in the National Council.

March 23, 2023

Austrian Integration Fund Upgrades its Supply for German Courses

The Austrian Integration Fund will extend the supply for courses of German courses from A1 to C1 level for immigrants and refugees. The courses are intended to assist immigrants in their Job seeking opportunities since learning German is a cornerstone for getting into the Austrian Job Market.

December 28, 2022

Multiple Integration Projects Will Be Promoted in Austria

67 integrational projects will be promoted through a common European fund in Austria until 2024. 28 Million Euros of this fund will go to Austria for integrational purposes.

December 22, 2022

OECD: "Austria Is Set to Overcome the COVID-19 Shock and Its Economic Scars"

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has released its latest Economic Survey of Austria. Read what the Survey says about the Austrian economy coming out of the latest wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

December 20, 2021

Inaugural Statement of Austria's New Chancellor: "We Want to Reconcile with History"

Newly appointed Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer delivered his inaugural statement to the National Council. Read what the new chancellor said are some of the key issues his government will focus on.

December 10, 2021

The Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic for Austria's Economy

The consequences of COVID-19 pandemic continue to determine economic activity in Austria and the banks’ higher resilience has been key to COVID-19 response.

November 29, 2021

Emirate of Qatar and Vienna to Cooperate in Cultural and Tourism Sectors

Vienna City Councilor Peter Hanke and Vienna Chamber of Commerce President Walter Ruck met with various government officials in Qatar to discuss further cooperation between Vienna and Qatar in the cultural and tourism sectors. Read about the visit and what, specifically, was discussed.

November 17, 2021

Business Immigration Office: Vienna Launches New Service Point for Expats and International Companies

As of today, Vienna has its own service office for international professionals (expats) and companies for matters of residence law as well as consultations.

October 13, 2021

Extension of Re-Employment Promise in Austria Gives Planning Security

In order to alleviate the hard-hit tourism industry, Austria's Labor Minister Martin Kocher and Tourism Minister Elisabeth Köstinger have announced to further extend the re-employment promise until the end of official closures. This gives the respective businesses more planning security, since they will not have to worry about their well-trained employees.

March 31, 2021

Deadline for Austrian "Reemployment Promise" Gets Extended

To further support the hard hit Austrian economy, the Minister of Labor and Minister of Tourism have decided to extend the deadline for the so-called "reemployment promise". This allows employers to lay off their employees and agreeing to re-hire them, once the sector is allowed to open up again. The affected employees receives unemployment benefits without any placement activities by the Austrian Arbeitsmarktservice.

February 15, 2021

Austria Has New Federal Minister for Labor

After the resignation of Susanne Aschbacher as Federal Minister for Labor, Chancellor Kurz has presented her successor. Martin Kocher, Professor of Behavioral Economics and Director of the Institute for Advanced Studies (IHS) will take over the Federal Minister position as an independent expert.

January 11, 2021

WKO Secretary General: Labor Market Situation Improves, But Remains Great Challenge

The secretary general of Austria's Federal Chamber of Commerce WKO recognizes a slightly positive trend in the labor market but underlines the importance of ongoing and future economic measures.

September 7, 2020

New Working Holiday Program Enables Young Argentinians to Experience Living in Austria

Austria includes the largest Spanish-speaking nation, Argentina, in its range of working holiday programmes, so that in the future young people between 18 and 30 years of age from both countries will be able to travel more easily to the other country and gain new valuable experience on the labour market during a given period.

April 5, 2019

Labour Supply in Austria to Grow by 5% by 2050

The supply of labour in Austria will continue to increase in the future if the trends in immigration and labour market participation continue. In 2017 there were an annual average of 4.55 million labour force in Austria, in 2020 according to the trend variant of the forecast there will be 4.63 million (+2%) and in 2050 4.79 million (+5%). No further growth is expected in the second half of this century.

November 22, 2018

Annual Report of the European Commission: How did Austria do?

The European Commission presented its annual reports on 27 EU member states. How did Austria do? Well, it kinda ended up with a black eye. The report took a pop at Vienna for a number of structural shortcomings, including tax burden on labour, pension and healthcare expenditures, house prices, restrictive regulation in the services markets, stagnating productivity and and not enough action on spreading digital technologies. That isn’t a particularly good report card for the previous coalition government of ÖVP und SPÖ. Let’s see if the new coalition government of ÖVP und FPÖ can make the grade the next time around.

March 11, 2018

“Romania Can Never Become the China of Europe”

Stabilization in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) is becoming stronger. However, the political crisis in Ukraine is causing a feeling of insecurity among the population.

May 15, 2014

Austria: Mitsubishi Takes Over Majority Stake in Siemens‘ VAI

The industrial systems subsidiary of Siemens, VAI with the business location in Linz, is sold to Japanese competitor Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI).

May 7, 2014

Pewag Striving for Larger Market Share in US

The Austrian snow chain manufacturer appreciates the label “Made in USA”.

May 6, 2014

Federation of Industries: “Industrial Compact“ for European Competitiveness

The Austrian Federation of Industries (IV) considers the EU entry of Austria as the basis of prosperty and economic growth in the past years. However, now reforms are required to catch up to a global level.

May 5, 2014

Majority of Czech Entrepreneurs Want Euro

According to a survey, more than three quarters of Czech entrepreneurs are in favor of the country adopting the Euro.

April 30, 2014

Austria: Is Spindelegger Suitable as Finance Minister?

On Tuesday the Austrian Finance Minister will hold his first budget speech. Initial figures reveal record debt levels.

April 28, 2014

Serbia: New Government Taking Drastic Measures

New head of the Serbian government Aleksandar Vucic has ambitious plans to reform the state and restructure state finances.

April 28, 2014

Austria: Difficult Market Situation for Selling Bawag

The selling of Bawag PSK proves difficult for its owner which is why an IPO is considered a realistic phasing-out scenario. However, experts doubt that an IPO will be a “highflyer”.

April 24, 2014

Eder: Policy-Makers Have to Make Decisions

Wolfgang Eder, CEO of Austrian steel manufacturer voestalpine, claims not to have heard anything from the Austrian policy makers after he raised criticizm with regard to the Austrian business location.

April 24, 2014

Serbia: “Huge Challenges Ahead”

President Tomislav Nikolic appointed Aleksandar Vucic to form a new Serbian government.

April 23, 2014

Austrians Cautiously Observant

Despite economic recovery the Austrian citizens are still cautiously observant.

April 22, 2014

Industrial Location Austria Losing Attractiveness

Among other things, labor costs and energy prices are too high, according to the Austrian Federation of Industries.

April 16, 2014

Slovakia as a Role Model?

In an interview with Austrian daily “Wirtschaftsblatt”, Tomas Malatinsky, Economy Minister of Slovakia, talked about budget discipline, investments and tax policy.

April 16, 2014

IMF Upgrades Growth for Slovenia

In its latest report the International Monetary Fund has raised its projection for GDP growth in Slovenia.

April 9, 2014

Fitch: Polish Rating Foundations Very Solid

As reported by news portal “Warsaw Voice”, rating agency Fitch considers the Polish credit rating foundations to be very solid.

April 8, 2014

Hungarian Electorial Law Supports Major Parties

Orban is the clear winner of the parliamentary elections in Hungary. He stressed that there are no more conflicts with the EU than any other member state had.

April 7, 2014

Serbia: Effective Measures for Economy

The Serbian Chamber of Commerce considers the measures for economic growth “a very big thing”.

April 7, 2014

Serbian Future Government Needs to Be “Compact”

According to the deputy leader of SNS, Aleksandar Vucic “shall introduce iron discipline in the Government.”

April 3, 2014

VIG: Takeover of Donaris Successful

Acquisition of the Moldovan insurer Donaris completed

April 3, 2014

Austria: “Financial Crisis is Not Yet Over”

Deputy Chancellor and Finance Minister Michael Spindelegger considers the financial crisis not to be completely over.

April 2, 2014

Leitl: “Growth Must Not Mean Less Reforms”

Economic growth is now weaker than in the previous phases of upturn.

March 28, 2014

Austria: Economic Growth Slowly Getting in Gear

Wifo (Austrian Institute of Economic Research) projects economic growth in Austria to revive again only at the end of this year.

March 27, 2014

Hungary: Orban Striving to Become PM Again

In an attempt to gain another four years as head of the government Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban praises the country’s achievements in the past years since his Fidesz party came into power.

March 26, 2014

Austria: Unemployment Rate to Remain at Record High

The Austrian unemployment rate is expected to remain at a record high even in 2015.

March 25, 2014

Serbia to Continue Talks with IMF

Serbia's Minister of Finance Lazar Krstic announced that an International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission will visit Serbia for talks on a new three-year arrangement shortly after a new government is formed.

March 21, 2014

Fitch: Elections Command Fiscal Consolidation and Reforms

Vucic appears to acknowledge the need for reforms in Serbia.

March 20, 2014

Serbia: Economic Activity Increases Speed

Since the beginning of 2014 economic activity has started to accelerate.

March 19, 2014

Wifo Warns European Council of Economic-Policy Standstill

The Austrian Institute of Economic Research sharply criticizes the current economic policy of the European Union and calls for a change of course to reach the self-defined targets.

March 19, 2014

Serbian President: Vucic is New PM

Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic named Aleksandar Vucic as new Prime Minister.

March 17, 2014

Belka: Poland Should Not Haste into Eurozone

Marek Belka, Governor of the National Bank of Poland (NBP), said that the country did not have to haste to become a member of the European single currency union.

March 17, 2014

Recovery of Austrian Economy Continues

Austrian economy continues its recovery despite weaker upswing.

March 17, 2014
Fast News Search