Background information

In Austria, labour shortages already lie significantly above pre COVID-19 times and have intensified within the last few months, with the number of job vacancies registered with the Public Employment Service (AMS) also ceiling at a new 'all-time high' (around 129,000).

Especially among so-called green jobs, a skilled labour shortage is evident and at the same time, interest for 'green jobs' has risen also among young persons.

In order to provide training to unemployed people in job fields with a promising future and to meet the demand of skilled labour in such fields, social partners initiated the active labour market policy of a work-foundation (often also called re-employment schemes) for environmental jobs.

Content of measure

Between April 2022 and April 2025, €10 million are invested in order to provide around 1,000 people with vocational training that could be used on the labour market, when qualification in the environmental sector are required. The focus lies on apprenticeships, which can be finished in half the time of the legal duration, in the following fields:

• waste and resource management
• green mobility
• energy generation and distribution
• building technology
• agricultural and forestry professions
• professions in the field of education, counseling and lifestyle

Besides apprenticeships, a qualification as a specialist assistant can be achieved in a shortened training period (three to twelve months).

Moreover, higher qualification for people with an apprenticeship diploma or university entrance qualification are offered.

The participants receive a subsidy by the Public Employment Service (livelihood security) and in addition €200 per month from the company in which the training takes place.

Use of measure

After one year of its implementation, as of May 2023, the measure counts 200 participants.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Unemployed	Sector specific set of companies	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Social partners jointly Company / Companies Public employment service	National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative	Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative
Form	Direct consultation outside a formal body	Direct consultation outside a formal body

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Social partners jointly
• Main level of involvement: Sectoral or branch level

Involvement

The social partners developed this active labour market policy.

Views and reactions

The social partners developed this measure and are thus content with it.

Sectors and occupations

Sources

• 01 April 2022: Environmental foundation (www.aufleb.at)
• 15 May 2023: One year of the environmental foundation: interest in green jobs is increasing (www.ots.at)
• 19 September 2025: Federal government launches qualification offensive on the labour marke (services.bundeskanzleramt.gv.at)