Numbers in free fall

Economy sounds the alarm: Vienna is running out of apprentices

Alarm bells are now ringing due to the low number of gastronomy apprentices.

(Bild: stock.adobe.com/auremar - stock.adobe.com)

The number of apprentices is in free fall - especially in tourism and the catering industry. The Social Democratic Business Association (SWV) now wants to modernize apprenticeships.

Last year, the number of apprenticeship companies in Austria reached a new long-term low. According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, this fell to a total of just 27,083, with the largest decline in the number of companies offering apprenticeships in the trades and crafts and retail sectors. The Vienna Social Democratic Business Association (SWV) is now also sounding the alarm.

Alarming situation in all sectors
The red interest group in the WKÖ wants to halt the dramatic developments and alleviate the shortage of skilled workers in Austria. "The number of apprentices has fallen drastically in recent years. It is high time we counteracted this trend with a whole package of measures," explains SWV President Marko Fischer.

7200 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 dramatic in the tourism industry, where the number of apprentices has more than halved in the last 15 years. "Our goal must be to increase this number back to 10,000 and, in the long term, to 15,000 to 20,000," says hotelier Bernd Hinteregger.

The well-known tourism expert has now set himself the goal of improving the image of teaching. But how can the economy counteract this? What does it take to get young people interested in apprenticeships?

SWV Vienna President Marko Fischer and tourism expert Bernd Hinteregger want to slow down the dramatic developments.

(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 wide range of apprenticeship opportunities. I can imagine a 500-euro vacation voucher as a reward," says Hinteregger, who calls for more creative approaches from politicians. 

The figures speak for themselves. The time for fine words is over. Apprenticeships must become attractive again!

Bernd Hinteregger, Tourismusexperte

Hinteregger also proposes the creation of a tourism apprentice pool. Apprentices should be given the opportunity to work in a different company once a year, possibly to get a taste of a sector, and thus experience an exchange with young people from a different environment, similar to an Erasmus course.

"An apprenticeship is an investment in the future"
Hinteregger is also self-critical. He and many others in the industry had not taken the issue seriously enough. "Now the hat is on fire. An apprenticeship is an investment in the future," he says, appealing to companies across the country to train the skilled workers of tomorrow.