Skills shortage in tourism: a call to the urgent reform!

Skills shortage in tourism: a call to the urgent reform!

In the current winter season, tourism companies in Austria are fighting for survival - the staff emergency reaches alarming dimensions. According to the WKÖ's tourism division chairman, Robert Seeber, 14,602 employees are already missing in the tourism sector. Particularly critical: The end of the seasonal of 4,495 third -country seasoners, which was exhausted for 93 % for 2024 at the end of September. Seeber demands a rapid increase in quota places to meet the growing demand. The existing regulations currently only allow 2 % of the required workers from third countries to be recruited. Despite the international competition for skilled workers, the Austrian tourism industry is left behind due to self -imposed limits.

The situation is so serious that the tourist offer often has to be restricted, which burdens both tourists and employees. "The political discussions have to come to an end. We immediately need solutions," emphasizes Seeber, and appeals to the Minister of Labor to issue the necessary regulations to ensure the attractiveness of Austria's tourism location. In the meantime, the Skillary monitoring of the BMAS that the lack of skilled workers is not only in Austria, but also in Germany: The prognoses for the next few years are concerned, Since a stagnating number of earnings indicates the demographic imbalance.

Significant shortage of skilled workers is emerging

The medium -term forecast of skilled worker monitoring illuminates the problems that result from demographic development and digitization. By 2027, a clear increase in the professions health and nursing professions will be expected, while many jobs in the processing industry will be lost. This trend threatens to continue to slow down the economic dynamics in both countries. The pressure on the existing workers increases, which could affect both productivity and the quality of the services. Over 1 million new workers are needed in health and social affairs- an alarming sign for the future of industries in both countries.