Austria has seen a further increase in the number of Red-White-Red (RWR) Cards issued in 2024 as the country continues to rely on immigration to fill gaps in the labour market. According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, 9,741 RWR Cards have been issued this year, marking a 21 percent increase compared to 2023, ORF reported.
The rise in RWR Cards comes as Austria faces a persistent shortage of skilled workers, the report added. ÖVP Minister of Labour and Economic Affairs Martin Kocher said the demand for qualified employees remains one of the biggest challenges for Austrian employers and is expected to grow further as the economy improves.
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To address the issue, Austria has focused on attracting more foreign workers while also investing in local training and qualification programmes.
New measures to attract foreign workers
A major step toward speeding up the recognition of foreign qualifications is the "Pre-Check" register, launched in the Philippines in autumn 2024. This system aims to fast-track immigration for workers in shortage occupations by making the qualification approval process quicker and more efficient.
As of now, 102 Philippine qualifications have been included in the register, and more are expected to follow. In addition to the Philippines, Austria prioritises recruitment from Albania, Brazil, Indonesia, and Kosovo to help meet labour market demands.
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Nursing training and labour market integration
Alongside increasing skilled worker immigration, the Austrian government has been expanding local workforce training. In 2024, around 269,000 people completed further qualifications through Public Employment Service (AMS) programmes, while nursing training courses saw a 16 percent increase.
Austria is also investing €75 million this year in labour market integration for asylum seekers and those with subsidiary protection, aiming to better integrate them into the workforce.
While Austria is looking beyond Europe for skilled workers, citizens from the EU and EEA remain a vital part of the country’s labour force, the Ministry said. The number of workers from these regions has almost doubled in the past ten years, reaching 605,977 in 2024.
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