Unraveling The Mystery: Why Finding A Job In Austria Is Tough

Austria has a strong economy and emphasizes innovation, with opportunities across a range of industries including technology, engineering, tourism, and healthcare. However, German proficiency is helpful for job seekers, and working without speaking German can be challenging. International companies and startups increasingly value English-speaking professionals and actively hire foreign talent.

High demand for new talent

Currently, you might not have to worry about how to get a job in Austria as a foreigner, as demand for new talent is high. Part of Austria’s reasoning behind not joining the UN’s migration agreement was to avoid illegal migration. Despite this, Austria accepted one of the biggest shares of asylum seekers in Europe’s 2015 migration crisis.

Working days in Austria will be familiar to most Westerners—people tend to work Monday to Friday and have Saturdays and Sundays for leisure time. No matter where you come from, having a good grasp of the German language will give you a better chance of getting a job in Austria. If you plan to work in the capital Vienna, there should be ample job opportunities in industries, like research, IT, tourism, and the service industry.

Once you've found a job, you must apply for a residence permit such as a Red-White-Red Card or EU Blue Card. Working in Austria without speaking German can be challenging, but it's possible in some specific situations. There're certain job sectors where English may be more commonly used, particularly in international companies, startups, research institutions, hospitality, and some tech-related fields.

Some of the international companies that actively hire foreigners in Austria include Siemens, OMV Group, and Red Bull. For expats, working in Austria means access to a stable and prosperous job market with opportunities across a range of industries. Connect with expats & locals and quickly grow your business network.

German language proficiency

Working in Austria without speaking German can be challenging, but it's possible in some specific situations. Certain job sectors where English is more commonly used include international companies, startups, research institutions, hospitality, and some tech-related fields. Some of the international companies that actively hire foreigners in Austria include Siemens, OMV Group, and Red Bull.

For expats, working in Austria means access to a stable and prosperous job market with opportunities across a range of industries. Known for its strong economy and emphasis on innovation, Austria has plenty of roles in fields like technology, engineering, tourism, and healthcare.

If you plan to work in the capital Vienna, there should be ample job opportunities in industries, like research, IT, tourism, and the service industry. Working days in Austria will be familiar to most Westerners—people tend to work Monday to Friday and have Saturdays and Sundays for leisure time.

Once you've found a job, you must apply for a residence permit such as a Red-White-Red Card or EU Blue Card. Connect with expats & locals and quickly grow your business network. Join the InterNations online and offline community, in expat social networks, such as InterNations, to meet people already living in Austria. They can tell you what it is like to work in the country and the best ways to get a job in Austria as a foreigner.

Access to a stable and prosperous job market

Working days in Austria will be familiar to most Westerners—people tend to work Monday to Friday and have Saturdays and Sundays for leisure time. Currently, you might not have to worry about how to get a job in Austria as a foreigner, as demand for new talent is high. Companies have even held job fairs to attract refugees.

No matter where you come from, having a good grasp of the German language will give you a better chance of getting a job in Austria. If you plan to work in the capital Vienna, there should be ample job opportunities in industries, like research, IT, tourism, and the service industry. Working in Austria without speaking German can be challenging, but it's possible in some specific situations. There're certain job sectors where English may be more commonly used, particularly in international companies, startups, research institutions, hospitality and some tech-related fields.

For expats, working in Austria means access to a stable and prosperous job market with opportunities across a range of industries. Connect with expats & locals and quickly grow your business network. Join the InterNations online and offline community, in expat social networks, such as InterNations, to meet people already living in Austria. They can tell you what it is like to work in the country and the best ways to get a job in Austria as a foreigner.

Emphasis on innovation

Austria is known for its strong economy and emphasis on innovation. The country has plenty of roles in fields like technology, engineering, tourism, and healthcare. International companies and startups increasingly value English-speaking professionals and actively hire foreign talent. Siemens, OMV Group, and Red Bull are some of the international companies that actively hire foreigners in Austria.

The demand for new talent is high and companies have even held job fairs to attract refugees. Working days in Austria will be familiar to most Westerners—people tend to work Monday to Friday and have Saturdays and Sundays for leisure time.

Having a good grasp of the German language will give you a better chance of getting a job in Austria. If you plan to work in the capital Vienna, there should be ample job opportunities in industries, like research, IT, tourism, and the service industry.

If you are already living in Austria and find a job that you like, it is worth asking your local friends if they know of the company or if they know anyone working for the company. Avoid contacting the hiring manager directly though as, in Austria, this could be seen as overstepping a professional boundary.

Join the InterNations online and offline community, in expat social networks, such as InterNations, to meet people already living in Austria. They can tell you what it is like to work in the country and the best ways to get a job in Austria as a foreigner.

International companies and startups

Siemens, OMV Group, and Red Bull are some of the international companies that actively hire foreigners in Austria.

German proficiency can be very helpful, but it is not always necessary to work in these companies. Certain job sectors where English is more commonly used include international companies, startups, research institutions, hospitality, and some tech-related fields.

Working days in Austria are familiar to most Westerners as people tend to work Monday to Friday and have Saturdays and Sundays for leisure time.

If you are already living in Austria and find a job that you like, it is worth asking your local friends if they know of the company or if they know anyone working for the company. This can help give you an idea of what the hiring manager will be looking for in an ideal candidate.

Frequently asked questions