Labor market projects

Refugees are integrated into the labor market

From left to right: Provincial Councillor Sara Schaar, Wolfgang Haberl AMS, Astrid Körner, Vice Rector Diakonie de La Tour, Adolf Kulterer, Austrian Chamber of Commerce, with a fully qualified electrician and a trained nurse.

(Bild: Rojsek-Wiedergut Uta)

Whether tourism workers, electrical engineers or nurses, the economy is desperately looking for qualified workers in many areas. On the occasion of World Refugee Day tomorrow, a review of eight years of labor market projects was conducted for the first time. 

Projects such as "A:Life", "Femme" and "TourIK" have established themselves over the past eight years. With "femme.plus", which includes all third-country nationals or people who have fled their country and have long-term prospects of staying in Austria as a target group, another project has been launched since January 2023. "Integration is more than just language courses or job placement. It also involves good support and integration in social, cultural and economic terms," explains Astrid Körner, Deputy Director of Diakonie de La Tour.

In Carinthia, we have had positive experiences with integrative labor market projects so far. These projects not only strengthen society, but the regional economy also benefits from the diversity of the workforce.

Landesrätin Sara Schaar.

This is how it works: 
In cooperation between an adult education provider and the Asylum, Migration and Integration Department, participants are taught formal skills (German, mathematics, IT) as well as socially relevant content in a training phase lasting several months. At the same time, there is the opportunity to gain (initial) experience in a Carinthian company. If this results in an employment relationship, the Department of Asylum, Migration and Integration provides follow-up support and thus serves as a point of contact for both participants and companies. Over 250 people have completed such training courses in recent years. 

How successful integration works

(Bild: Rojsek-Wiedergut Uta)

250 asylum seekers have been trained by Diakonie.

(Bild: Rojsek-Wiedergut Uta)

Today's press conference on the initiative

(Bild: zVg)

Infineon as a major and important partner
"By integrating people into working life, we are giving them a real chance for the future. At Infineon alone, more than 20 people with asylum status have been able to start an apprenticeship. Eight young people have already completed their technical apprenticeship - four of them even with distinction," says Sabine Herlitschka, Vice President of the Federation of Austrian Industries, Chairwoman of the Board of Infineon Technologies Austria AG. Today, these people are highly sought-after specialists who live and work here. "Integration and even more diversity in terms of origin, gender or age are therefore also an answer to the urgent shortage of skilled workers," says Herlitschka.

High placement rate
"The new project "A:Life - Asylum & Apprenticeship in Carinthia" has multiple benefits from the perspective of the Carinthian Public Employment Service: On the one hand, it enables us to integrate people with an asylum background into the labor market, and on the other, it helps to combat the shortage of skilled workers. The project therefore opens up opportunities and prospects for both sides: for the people taking part and for Carinthian companies. The placement rate of the project is already around 75 percent," said Wolfgang Haberl, Head of the Promotion Department at the AMS.