Apprenticeship opportunities

Companies are now looking for thousands of apprentices

Many retail chains offer bonuses for good performance and top career opportunities.

(Bild: SPAR/PG Studios)

The search for new apprentices is picking up speed in Austria: Companies in all sectors are increasingly looking to train young talent in-house. Because they know: Skilled workers will be in short supply in the future and it is important to get young talent on board early.

Well-known companies such as steel giant voestalpine, motorcycle manufacturer KTM, large food chains, furniture store groups such as XXXLutz and kikaLeiner as well as car dealers Porsche Inter Auto and telecommunications market leader A1 are once again taking on thousands of young people. The "Krone" newspaper took a look at the five economic sectors in which there are the most apprenticeships:

• In fifth place is the "transportation and traffic" sector: at the end of 2023, 2981 apprentices were in training there - that's more than in any of the last three years.
• In fourth place is the "Tourism and leisure industry" sector, which generally includes our hospitality industry. Overall, the number of apprentices in this sector rose from 6949 in 2022 to 7195 in 2023.
• In the retail sector, the number of apprentices recently fell slightly to 14,763 at the end of 2023. Nevertheless, retailers remain important training providers.
• Industrial companies have expanded apprenticeships. A total of 16,804 young people recently completed their practical vocational training there. A year earlier, there were slightly fewer at 16,428.
• The absolute number one when it comes to on-the-job training is the trade and crafts sector: at the end of the previous year, there were 46,666 apprentices. Although this was a small drop compared to 2022 (46,913), Renate Scheichelbauer-Schuster, spokesperson for this sector at the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, now wants to further increase the value of apprenticeships.

Renate Scheichelbauer-Schuster, Chairwoman of the Trade and Crafts Division of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, wants to further enhance the value of apprenticeships.

(Bild: Foto Lagler)

More people should hold the title of "master craftsman".
For example, there should be more opportunities to officially use the title of master craftsman. Scheichelbauer-Schuster: "Since 2019, the master craftsman title can be registered in public documents and may be used in front of the name."

The problem: in contrast to the skilled trades (e.g. carpenters), apprenticeship graduates in the trades (e.g. electrical engineers) cannot take a master craftsman's examination later on, but a so-called qualifying examination. Scheichelbauer-Schuster therefore argues that they should also be allowed to use the abbreviation "Mst." should also be allowed to use it. Last year, a total of 5070 certificates for master craftsman and qualification examinations were issued in Austria.