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The State of Hiring &
Recruitment in Austria 2026
A comprehensive data-driven analysis of Austria's labour market — covering unemployment, talent shortages, salaries, AI adoption, and sectoral hiring trends for 2026.
7.5%
Mar 2026 Unemployment
National (AMS) definition
↓ Improving from 8.8% Jan
↓ Improving from 8.8% Jan
272K
Unfilled Positions
Nationwide vacancies
87% of companies affected
87% of companies affected
€55K
Median Annual Salary
Gross (2025, incl. 13th/14th)
↑ +3.3% projected for 2026
64
Shortage Occupations
National 2026 list
↑ from 58 in 2025
↑ from 58 in 2025
Employment Overview
4.44M
Total employed persons in Austria (2025 estimate, IMF)
3.95M
Dependent employees registered (Mar 2026, AMS)
+27K
Forecast growth in dependent employment (2026, WIFO)
102,491
Long-term unemployed (registered ≥1 year, +12.8% YoY, Dec 2025)
Top Sectors — Shortage & Hiring Intensity
| Sector | Est. Unfilled Roles | Avg Salary Range | Shortage Level | Key Roles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🏥 Healthcare & Nursing | 55,000+ | €40k–€110k | Critical | Nurses, Doctors, Caregivers |
| 💻 Information Technology | 45,000+ | €60k–€90k+ | Critical | Developers, Cloud, Cybersecurity |
| 🏗️ Construction & Trades | 24,000+ | €35k–€55k | Critical | Electricians, Plumbers, Roofers |
| ⚙️ Engineering | 30,000+ | €50k–€75k | High | Mechanical, Electrical, Civil |
| 🏨 Tourism & Hospitality | 18,000+ | €28k–€42k | High | Hotel Staff, Chefs, Managers |
| 🚚 Transport & Logistics | 14,000+ | €32k–€48k | High | Drivers, Train Operators |
| 📚 Education & Childcare | 20,000+ | €30k–€45k | High | Teachers, Childcare Workers |
| 🌿 Green Energy | 8,000+ | €45k–€65k | Growing | Solar/Wind Technicians, ESG |
Salary Benchmarks 2026
Specialist Doctor
IT Manager / Architect
Senior Engineer
Finance / Banking
Software Developer
Graduate Nurse
National Median
Factory Worker
Recruitment Technology & AI Adoption
🤖
80%
Austrian recruiters expected to adopt AI-driven screening tools by 2025
📱
45%
of all Austria job openings in 2025 are in tech-related fields
🔍
+35%
Increase in Red-White-Red Card approvals (2023→2024)
🏢
87%
of Austrian companies affected by labour shortages (WKO)
🌍
13,500
Projected RWR Card approvals in 2025 (Labour Minister Kocher)
📊
103%
More vacancies per employed person in ICT vs average job in Austria (OECD)
Workforce Demographics & Structural Challenges
-262K
Projected decline in Austria's working-age population by 2040 (IV Federation)
10.93%
Youth unemployment rate (15–24 yr) in Austria (2023, Expatica)
71%
Female employment rate in Austria (above EU average, EURES 2024)
5,500
Seasonal tourism permits available for 2025/2026 season + 2,500 Western Balkans quota
1,400
New police cadets to be accepted across Austria in 2026 (Interior Ministry)
+4.4%
Rise in unemployment among workers aged 50+ (YoY Dec 2025, The Local)
Wage Growth & Economic Outlook
📈
+3.3%
Average salary increase forecast for 2026 (Kienbaum Vienna)
💶
€1,800
CBA-based entry minimum gross monthly wage (800+ collective agreements)
🏦
1.5–2%
Real GDP growth projected 2025–2026 (OeNB/WIFO)
💼
+2.8%
Compensation per employee growth expected 2026 (OeNB)
🔵
€55,678
EU Blue Card minimum salary threshold per year (2025)
🏙️
3–4%
Inflation rate Austria late 2025 / early 2026 (Playroll EOR Guide)
Sources: AMS Austria · WKO · WIFO · OeNB · Eurostat · OECD · Statistics Austria · The Local AT · Edstellar · Qureos · Inedjobs.com · Kienbaum Vienna · Expatica · EURES · Visahq.com
Data compiled April 2026 | For informational purposes only
Data compiled April 2026 | For informational purposes only
9cv9 Research Team | blog.9cv9.com