WORK IN AUSTRIA

  In November 2024, the Austrian Immigration Department released a groundbreaking update that highlights the country’s urgent need for skilled labor.

To combat this, the Austrian government has expanded its skill shortage list to an impressive 110 occupations. This strategic move signals a push to attract talent globally with an easier pathway for visa approvals and lucrative salary packages.

Key sectors seeing expansion include:

• Healthcare: Midwives, nurses, dietitians.
• Transport: Train and bus drivers, conductors.
• Engineering: Mechanical and electrical engineers, data processing experts.
•  Education: Childcare workers and social workers.
• Creative and Service Roles: Hairdressers, cosmeticians, chefs, and florists.

What Are Red-White-Red Cards and Blue Cards EU?

Austria’s immigration framework offers two primary types of work permits for skilled professionals:

• Red-White-Red Card: Tailored for third-country nationals in shortage occupations, this permit grants residence and work rights in Austria. To qualify, applicants must meet a minimum points threshold based on education, experience, language skills, and other factors.
• Blue Card EU: This residence permit caters to highly skilled non-EU professionals. As of 2024, the minimum annual gross salary requirement for the EU Blue Card is set at EUR 47,855, highlighting Austria’s competitive pay scale.

Austria’s Skill Shortage List (November 2024)

To provide an idea of the breadth of this expansion, here is a shuffled list of some key roles now officially recognized as shortage occupations:

1. Engineers for data processing
2. Midwives
3. Bus drivers
4. Hairdressers and make-up artists
5. Social scientists, economists, and statisticians
6. Dieticians
7. Mechanical engineers
8. Ophthalmic opticians
9. Restaurant chefs
10. Educators
11. Florists and flower arrangers
12. Technicians for civil engineering
13. Childcare workers
14. Confectioners
15. Professional truck drivers (passenger transport)
16. Construction joiners
17. Insurance agents
18. Stone masons
19. Cosmeticians and manicurists
20. Track layers
21. Graduate mechanical engineers
22. Metal turners
23. Social workers
24. Toolmakers
25. Warehouse experts
26. Payroll accountants
27. Medical technology specialists
28. Carpenters
29. Certified public accountants
30. Beauticians and pedicurists

(Full list available through official Austrian immigration resource here https://www.migration.gv.at/en/types-of-immigration/permanent-immigration/austria-wide-shortage-occupations/)

Those looking to secure employment in these roles can explore opportunities through reputable job portals such as AMS (Austrian Public Employment Service – https://www.ams.at/organisation/public-employment-service-austria) and other European job boards like (EURES – https://europa.eu/eures/portal/jv-se/home?lang=en_US&app=4.7.1-build-0&pageCode=find_a_job), which cater specifically to international job seekers.