Working In Austria: A Guide For Americans

Austria is a great place to work, with its high quality of life, thriving work environment, and high standard of living. The country offers numerous job openings for foreigners, especially those with skills in technology, life sciences, and tourism. If you're an American looking to work in Austria, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. Firstly, research the job market and the requirements for the specific job you're interested in. While English-speaking jobs are available, particularly in international companies, startups, research institutions, hospitality, and some tech fields, learning German will significantly broaden your options. Secondly, as an American citizen, you will need a valid work visa and/or residence permit to work in Austria. You can apply for these documents at the Austrian embassy or consulate in your home country. Additionally, you must have health insurance that covers all potential risks in Austria and provide proof of accommodation. Lastly, networking is key; attend job fairs, connect with fellow expats, and make use of recruitment agencies to increase your chances of finding employment.

Job Market and Requirements

Austria has a lot to offer international professionals, including a high quality of life, a thriving work environment, and a strategic location in the heart of Europe. The country's dynamic and innovative economy presents outstanding career prospects, especially for skilled professionals in technology, life sciences, and tourism. The average salary in Austria is €3,790 per month, including bonuses and social security, which is comparable to most of Western Europe.

If you're an American citizen, here are the job market trends and requirements you need to know about:

Job Market

Austria is known for its highly skilled workforce across various sectors, including agriculture, green technology, services, and tourism. Energy, financial services, telecoms, and real estate companies are among the country's top employers. However, like many countries, the COVID-19 pandemic impacted unemployment rates, particularly in the hospitality industry.

In recent years, there has been a shortage of professionals in several fields, including:

• Engineers and technicians (especially power engineers, agricultural machinery engineers, telecommunications engineers, mechanical engineers, and data processing engineers)
• Healthcare professionals (including doctors, nurses, medical technology specialists, and denture technicians)
• Gastronomy and hospitality staff (such as restaurant chefs, coffee product makers, butchers, waiters/waitresses, etc.)
• Business specialists (like payroll accountants, certified public accountants, and billing accountants)
• Physical employees (including bricklayers, floor and wall tilers, and carpenters)

Requirements for Working in Austria as an American

As an American citizen, there are specific requirements and procedures you need to follow to work in Austria:

• Work Visa and Residence Permit: You will typically need a valid work visa and/or residence permit to work and reside in Austria. These can be obtained from the Austrian embassy or consulate in your home country.
• Health Insurance: Ensure you have adequate health insurance that covers all potential risks in Austria. Once employed, your employer must register you for social security, providing access to public healthcare services.
• Accommodation Proof: Provide evidence of having a place to live in Austria, including information about the length of your intended stay.
• Sufficient Income: Demonstrate that your income meets the requirements specified in your permit.
• Job Market Access: Depending on the type of residence permit, you may need to prove that the job cannot be filled by an Austrian or EU/EEA citizen. This is usually done through a labor market test.
• Employer Sponsorship: Your prospective Austrian employer will play a role in the application process by providing documentation and confirming the job offer.
• Qualifications and Skills: Depending on the job, your qualifications and skills will be evaluated to ensure they match the requirements. If you're from a non-EU/EEC country, you may need to get your university degree nostrified in Austria by applying to the relevant public university.
• Language Requirements: Learning German is highly recommended as it is the official language, and most job applications and interviews are in German. However, certain sectors, such as international companies, startups, research institutions, hospitality, and tech fields, may use English.
• Criminal Record Check: Some jobs, including security, childcare, and police work, require a criminal record check, which can be obtained from the local police department in Austria.

Work Visas and Permits

The requirements for work visas and permits in Austria depend on whether you are a citizen of a country within the European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA). If you are an EU or EEA citizen, you can work in Austria without a separate work permit, but you must have valid identification, register your residence with the local authorities upon arrival, and contribute to the social security system.

If you are not an EU or EEA citizen, you will generally need a work visa and/or residence permit to work in Austria. The specific requirements depend on the type of work, duration, and your qualifications. You will typically need to apply for these documents at the Austrian embassy or consulate in your home country. Additionally, your prospective employer will usually need to provide documentation and confirm the job offer.

Non-EU/EEA citizens may also need to demonstrate that their qualifications and skills match the job requirements and meet language requirements, depending on the job and industry. It is beneficial to have at least some basic German language skills before starting your job search in Austria.

If you are planning to stay in Austria for less than six months, you will need a working permit and a visa, but a work visa and residence permit are not required. The working permit must be applied for by your future employer before you enter the country.

If you are a third-country national planning to come to Austria to look for a job, you can apply for a job-seeker visa, which is valid for a maximum of six months. This visa is tailored to highly qualified workers, and you must achieve 70 out of 100 points on a list of criteria, including factors such as higher education, language level, and special qualifications. If you are allowed to enter Austria without a visa, you do not need a job-seeker visa.

Language Requirements

Austria's official language is German, and most of the population speaks German. Therefore, it is highly recommended to learn German before starting to look for a job in Austria. Basic German proficiency will streamline the job hunting process. While there are certain job sectors where English may be more commonly used, particularly in international companies, startups, research institutions, hospitality, and some tech-related fields, German language skills are still an asset.

The Public Employment Service Austria (AMS) offers several web tools and an online platform for young career starters, all in German. The WORK in AUSTRIA TALENT HUB is a platform where you can create a profile with a CV in German and English to be discovered by Austrian companies. Interviews are usually conducted in German unless otherwise stated.

If you are applying for a regulated profession such as architecture, medicine, nursing, teaching, or physiotherapy, you will need recognized qualifications and German language skills to work in these fields.

If you are an EU or EEA citizen, you can contact the Public Employment Service Austria (AMS) via the European Job Mobility Portal (EURES) before arriving in Austria and view job vacancies.

Qualifications and Skills

If you are a US citizen, you will need a work visa and a residence permit to work in Austria. Your qualifications and skills will be evaluated to ensure they match the requirements of the job. If you are from an EU or EEC country, your university degree and other qualifications will be recognized in Austria. However, if you are from the US, you will need to get your qualifications nostrified in Austria. To do this, apply to the relevant public university, which will inform you within three months if you need to do any supplementary exams.

In Austria, regulated professions include architects, doctors, nurses, teachers, and physiotherapists, and some specific trades. Along with your recognized university degree, you will need German language skills to work in these fields. For all non-regulated professions, you can start your job search immediately as long as you hold a validation from the National Academic Recognition Information Center (ENIC-NARIC Austria).

If you are not sure what type of job you should apply for, the Public Employment Service Austria (AMS) offers several web tools (all in German). There is an orientation tool and an online platform for young career starters. The qualification barometer informs you about the current trends in various occupational fields, and the occupational lexicon is useful for getting an overview of job titles.

Austria offers many job opportunities, especially in ICT, metal technology, electrical engineering, and life sciences. There is also a wide range of job opportunities in Austria, but some professions are in high demand, including:

• Engineers and technicians
• Healthcare professionals
• Gastronomy and hospitality employees
• Business specialists
• Physical employees

Austrian companies generally require an application letter and a CV. It is recommended that you learn at least some German before you start looking for a job. Your CV should be up-to-date and contain brief and accurate descriptions of your work experience and education. Interviews are usually conducted in German unless otherwise stated.

Job Search and Application

As an American, you will need a work visa and residence permit to work in Austria. You should apply for these at the Austrian embassy or consulate in your home country. You will also need to provide proof of health insurance and accommodation, as well as evidence of sufficient income.

There are several ways to search for job opportunities in Austria. You can start by exploring online job boards, social media channels, and printed publications. You can also attend job fairs and networking events, or use the services of recruitment agencies. Some notable recruitment agencies in Austria include Manpower, Aviteus, Hays, Michael Page, Euro Science Jobs, and Career Competence.

The Public Employment Service Austria (AMS) is a useful resource, offering several web tools to help you find job vacancies. The AMS eJob-Room is the largest job marketplace in Austria, and you can access it through their free smartphone app. The WORK in AUSTRIA TALENT HUB is another platform where you can create a profile and be discovered by Austrian companies. This platform also advertises job vacancies specifically for international specialists.

If you are not already in Austria, you may be eligible for a job-seeker visa, which allows you to stay in the country for up to six months while looking for a job. To qualify, you must achieve 70 out of 100 points on a list of criteria, including factors such as higher education, language proficiency, and special qualifications.

When applying for jobs in Austria, you will typically need to submit a CV and a cover letter. The cover letter is considered even more important than the CV, as it provides insight into your character and personality. It is customary to include a professional photo in the top right corner of your CV, along with your signature at the end. Your CV should be concise, accurate, and free of spelling mistakes. It is recommended to learn at least some German before starting your job search, as many companies use German as their working language. If you are unsure about the structure of your application documents, you can use the EU's Europass CV builder or follow templates provided by the Public Employment Service Austria (AMS).

Austrians value punctuality and formality, so be sure to dress appropriately for interviews. The business culture in Austria is generally formal, with a clear hierarchy and well-defined roles. Loyalty and punctuality are also important aspects of the local business culture.

Frequently asked questions