Austria lacks qualified construction workers, bringing workforce from outside EU difficult

The owner of a construction company in Vienna, a man of Serbian origin, has trouble finding workforce, a known problem in Austria, but contrary to the announcements, Austrian authorities make it difficult to bring workforce from outside the EU.

– I need sheet metal workers, and Austria lacks those workers. This profession is on the list of scarce occupations, which was allegedly implemented to enable the economy to bring workforce from third countries. However, in practice, things are different – he explains.

According to him, the authorities constantly reject his requests for bringing workers.

– Although all the documents are accepted and the candidates get a sufficient number of points, the authorities always require additional documentation, in order to prevent the workers from coming over – he claims.

He points out that, even though the Austrian government announced that enterprises would be able to bring workforce from abroad, if their profile is on the scarce occupations list, things are different in practice.

– A small number of sheet metal workers are registered at the employment service, but they are not good at their job, although they have degrees. Furthermore, they don't want to do that job either – he said.

To clarify, in order not to lose welfare, the unemployed must apply for vacancies and try to work, and many who don't want to only stay for a few days and then go back to welfare.

– Due to the lack of workforce, my company cannot meet all its contracted obligations, which prevents me from taking more jobs and having the company grow, which would increase tax revenues for the state – he pointed out.

construction

workers

job in Austria

workforce

scarce occupations