Threat of job cuts

Styrian industry: “We are in a recession”

Styrian industry has been plagued by staff shortages for years, but now the tide is turning: almost half of companies are planning to cut staff in the first quarter. This makes the situation difficult for jobseekers - especially for women.

Daniela Thaler, a trained metal technician from Thal, has sent 20 applications to companies since December. Not once was she invited to an interview - we reported. Only when Thaler removed her photo from her CV and called herself "Dani" instead of "Daniela" did she hear back from a temporary employment agency. 

Was Thaler ignored because of her gender? Nina Zechner, Deputy Managing Director of the Federation of Austrian Industries Styria, defends the sector and also sees other reasons: "The labor shortage is no longer as severe, the dynamics have changed." Demand is declining. "As an industry, we are in a recession. According to a survey, 44 percent of companies want to cut staff in the first quarter of 2024."

Unemployment on the rise
Unemployment has been rising in Austria since April 2023. At the end of February 2024, 402,297 people were out of work, of which 321,655 were unemployed and 80,642 were taking part in AMS training measures. The unemployment rate was 7.6 percent.

More and more women are opting for industrial apprenticeships
Nevertheless, the industry is changing: "23 percent of industrial apprentices are women, compared to 14 percent in 2007 - we are noticing a significant increase," says Zechner. This is not limited to the office, but is also reflected in production: "The most frequently chosen profession is metal technology, followed by industrial clerk." 

Nina Zechner, IV(Bild: Christian Jauschowetz)

Nonetheless: "We are struggling with traditional role models. The opportunity to work full-time with children is often not available, especially in rural areas." It is often said that full-day crèches and nurseries are not in demand. "But families simply divide things up differently if there is no provision. If there were, there would be demand," Zechner is certain.

There is no profession that a woman cannot do.

Nina Zechner, IV

She is certain that professions in industry offer women many advantages: you earn more in industry than in trade and service professions and are therefore less affected by the gender pay gap. "There are cool career opportunities, whether as an apprentice or an academic." Zechner is certain, although there are always black sheep: "Companies cannot and do not want to do without women. They know that diverse teams work better."