Numbers in free fall

Economy sounds the alarm: Vienna is running out of apprentices

With the number of culinary apprentices at an all-time low, alarm bells are now ringing.(Bild: auremar - stock.adobe.com)

Apprentice numbers are in free fall—especially in tourism and the restaurant industry. The Social Democratic Economic Association (SWV) now wants to modernize the apprenticeship system.

Last year, the number of companies offering apprenticeships in Austria hit a new long-term low. According to the Ministry of Economy, this figure dropped to just 27,083 in total. The biggest decline in companies offering apprenticeships was seen in the trades and crafts sectors, as well as in retail. The Social Democratic Economic Association of Vienna (SWV) is now also sounding the alarm.

Alarming situation across all sectors
The SWV, the social democratic interest group within the WKÖ, aims to halt these dramatic developments and alleviate the shortage of skilled workers in Austria. “The number of apprentices has dropped drastically in recent years. It is high time that we counter this trend with a comprehensive package of measures,” explains SWV President Marko Fischer.

7,200 apprentices

While there were still 14,800 apprentices working in tourism in 2008, today there are only 7,200. The number has halved within 15 years.

The situation is particularly dire in the tourism industry, where the number of apprentices has actually more than halved over the past 15 years. “Our goal must be to raise this number back to 10,000 and expand it to 15,000 to 20,000 in the long term,” says hotelier Bernd Hinteregger.

The well-known tourism expert has now set himself the goal of improving the image of apprenticeships. But how can the business community counter this trend? What does it take to get young people excited about apprenticeships?

SWV Vienna President Marko Fischer and tourism expert Bernd Hinteregger want to slow down these dramatic trends.(Bild: Michael Strobl)

This can be achieved by introducing a mandatory two-week internship in the 9th grade. “This internship could show young people the diverse opportunities an apprenticeship offers. As a reward, I could envision a 500-euro vacation voucher,” says Hinteregger, who is calling for more creative approaches from policymakers. 

The numbers speak for themselves. The time for empty words is over. Apprenticeships must become attractive again!

Bernd Hinteregger, Tourismusexperte

In addition, Hinteregger proposes the creation of a tourism apprentice pool. Once a year, apprentices should have the opportunity to work at a different company, perhaps to get a taste of a different industry, and thus, similar to an Erasmus exchange, to experience an exchange with young people from a different background.

“An apprenticeship is an investment in the future”
Hinteregger is also self-critical. He and many others in the industry did not take the issue seriously enough. “Now the situation is critical. An apprenticeship is an investment in the future,” he urges businesses across the country to train the skilled workers of tomorrow.