Vienna fights against IT specialist deficiency: Cooperation with schools started!

Vienna fights against IT specialist deficiency: Cooperation with schools started!

In Vienna, the economy faces an alarming challenge: around 6,000 IT specialists are missing for 2025. This deficit is part of a nationwide lack of 28,000 IT specialists across Austria. Without these specialists who play a decisive role in the functionality of everyday processes - from registration coffers in the supermarket to traffic lights in road traffic - the competitiveness of the location is at risk, as reported by the Vienna Chamber of Commerce.

In order to counteract the shortage of skilled workers, increased cooperation with six Viennese higher technical educational institutions (HTLS) is based on IT. The Chamber of Commerce promotes these cooperation by providing 10,000 euros annually to support practice-oriented purchases such as 3D printer or software solutions. Martin Heimhilcher, chairman of the WKW division, emphasizes that the HTL graduates in Vienna and beyond the city limits are extremely in demand, while Martin Puaschitz, chairman of the UBIT specialist group, emphasizes the exchange of curricula and the integration opportunities of companies in everyday school life.

increasing apprenticeship, but still insufficiently

The situation of IT teaching shows positive developments: The number of IT apprentices rose by 3.8 percent in 2024 compared to the previous year. Nevertheless, the currently trained apprentices cover only 15 percent of the required pool of skilled workers. In order to inspire young people for a career in the IT industry, flexible working hours, good earning opportunities and the chance of independent work are emphasized. The Chamber of Commerce at the same time relies on the training of new IT specialists and the cooperation with educational institutions in order to close the urgent gap.

The efforts are essential, because as the analysis shows, the IT industry is still seen as a key to innovation and economic growth in Vienna. A sustainable solution must be found as quickly as possible to secure a stable future of the technology and data landscape in the capital, such as orf and report