Alarming survey: 33% of female entrepreneurs are planning to relocate!

Austrian top managers sound the alarm! The relentless combination of rising energy and personnel costs is putting the local economy in distress. According to a current survey by the Zukunft.Frauen Alumnae Club, in which almost 400 women managers took part, a third are already considering moving their production sites abroad. This particularly affects 58 percent of those surveyed, who recognize the increased costs as the biggest challenge. The survey also shows that more than a quarter of executives are concerned about economic developments, while only 54 percent are optimistic about the future Leadersnet reported.

Personnel costs are rising dramatically

The Horváth study confirms these findings and puts the finger on the wound: Personnel costs in Europe will rise by an average of 7.5 percent in 2023, while material costs will only be 4.5 percent. Sectors such as automotive, telecommunications and chemicals are particularly affected, where increases could even be up to 16 percent. Companies are realizing that the availability of workers has now become a crucial location factor. Decisions are made not only on costs, but also on long-term availability, which poses new challenges for many in their personnel recruitment strategy, such as the analysis of Horvath shows.

However, the survey among managers also reveals possible solutions: the focus is increasingly on flexible working models and the further development of employer branding. In addition, technology, particularly through artificial intelligence, is accelerating efficiency in companies. However, while 87 percent of managers recognize that AI needs to be integrated into the work process, the area of ​​further training for employees often remains underdeveloped. There is an urgent need for action here in order to keep pace with the rapid market changes and to future-proof the valuable human resource.