Strategy paper 2030

Upper Austria is reorienting its labour market and skills strategy with Workplace Upper Austria 2030, and is adapting it to the conditions that have changed significantly in recent years.

• In the past one to two years, the shortage of skilled labour has increased massively. Migration has, at times, developed considerable momentum.
• The pension-related outflow from the potential labour force will rise sharply from now on.
• The digitisation of the working world is progressing rapidly and leading to ever faster-changing requirements as regards expertise.

Well-educated people are, and will be, the most important location factor for the Upper Austrian economy in the future. Upper Austria is tackling the challenges of the future and, with the new strategic programme, is focusing heavily on securing skilled labour for the federal state. The aim is to make the best possible use of the regional framework of the active labour market policy together with the respective partners. It is important to ensure the availability of skilled workers and to guarantee a healthy labour market.

At the core are three strategic goals for a labour market in which all groups of people are highly involved in working life (full employment), and where the professionals required by the Upper Austrian economy is available.

In the long term there is considerable potential for securing skilled labour in the area of needs-based qualification, as currently almost 20 % of all people in prime employment age in Upper Austria only have compulsory schooling.

There are significant possibilities for additional specialists regarding activation for a high labour force participation, especially among women, the 55-64 age group, and people with a migrant background.

Due to the extent of immigration and emigration, the recruitment and retention of skilled workers has very significant potential in securing the supply of professionals in Upper Austria.

Broadly, therefore, the strategic provision of skilled labour is a relevant issue. This requires a comprehensive approach, accurate information, the interaction of the actors and the effective use of instruments throughout the impact chain of the labour market policy.

In order to secure the skilled workforce of the future, it is important to draw links between the economic, labour market and education policies, as this will prevent labour from becoming a limiting factor for Upper Austria’s economic development.

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