Background information

The demographic development in Austria (like in most western countries) shows a steady decline in the number of people of working age in the next years and decades: By 2040, the number of people between 20 and 64 years will decline by almost 262,000. In addition, data by the Federal Economic Chamber (WKO) show that 82% of companies report that they are affected by a shortage of skilled workers.

Content of measure

Due to this growing shortage of suitable qualified workers from within Austria and the EU, the WKO has developed the "International Skilled Worker Initiative", a programme targeted towards implementing its strategic framework: targeted measures in defined focus countries which attempt to attract and improve the influx of qualified specialists educated/trained in jobs which are on the so-called "shortage occupation lists*" in Austria. This is intended to improve the recruitment of Austrian companies and SMEs in particular.

*Shortage occupations are defined as those occupations in which fewer than 1.5 job seekers are available per vacancy within a given year (if this is the case, companies may recruit workers from third countries). In addition to a national shortage occupation list (which includes 81 professions in 2025), there are nine regional shortage occupation lists (showing in total 66 shortage occupations in 2025) which consider only the respective federal state.

The fields of action of the WKO's initiative include three areas: - competence assessment and qualification measures: competence assessment procedure, sourcing suitable educational institutions, capacity building measures, gap analysis of educational needs - recruitment: recruitment events in focus industries and focus countries, cooperation with recruitment agencies, economic missions, pilot projects, identifying business models for member companies - communication/external appearance: positioning Austria as an attractive place to work, involvement of external stakeholders, community building and public exchange.

The strategy also includes specific focus countries (those considered "a good match with Austria in the education and labour market") and focus shortage occupations: Focus countries: Albania, Brazil, Indonesia, Kosovo, Philippines. Focus on shortage occupations: qualified nurses, electricians and fitters, milling operators, turners, welders, cutting torches, IT specialists, chefs, motor vehicle mechanics, mechanical engineers, bricklayers, locksmiths, roofers, carpenters

The initiative targets towards strengthening its member companies in the recruitment of qualified third-country nationals and provides a wide source of informational events (also abroad in the focus countries).

Use of measure

No information available.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Applies to all businesses	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
Employers' organisations	Employer Employers organisation

Social partners

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

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement	Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative
Form	Not applicable	Direct consultation outside a formal body

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

• Only employers' organisations
• Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level

Involvement

This is a unilateral social partner initiative (Federal Economic Chamber) which designed and implemented the strategy.

Views and reactions

The WKO as founder of the initiative is supportive. No information from the employee side is available.

Sectors and occupations

This case is not sector-specific.

Sources

• 18 February 2025: International Skilled Worker Offensiv (www.wko.at)