13,084 Viennese received funding of 17.7 million euros in 2023
Vienna (OTS) – Vienna is currently experiencing a dynamic labor market, which is partly based on a high demand for skilled workers in future sectors. In Vienna, around 490,000 new employment relationships are created every year. The economic research institute WIFO expects 65,100 additional jobs to be created between 2021 and 2028. The major change processes of digitalization and greening place new demands on the qualifications of employees.
Many Viennese rightly perceive the dynamics of the labor market as an opportunity and have become active in training and further education. The result is a new funding record for waff in 2023. A total of 13,084 employed Viennese people received training and further education with the support of waff and received funding totaling 17.7 million euros. These are increases of 18 percent in customers and 45 percent in funding compared to 2022.
City Councilor for Economic Affairs Peter Hanke sees this as an expression of the high level of commitment among Viennese people: “The many motivated employees invest a lot of time and energy in their training and further education and in the goal of advancing in their careers. They are a gift for the Viennese economy. At the same time, the funding record also shows an increased desire to improve the current professional situation and get started with new qualifications.”
waff supports those wishing for a career change
According to a recent survey by a personnel service provider, many employees are dissatisfied with their current employer, and two thirds of employees even want to change jobs this year. With the waff advice center for careers and further training, the City of Vienna has a unique instrument to support employees in career changes and further development.
Monika Nigl, head of the waff advice center for careers and further training: “I encourage all Viennese people to take their professional development into their own hands and invite them to actively use our waff offers. Especially in times when money is tighter due to rising prices, waff wants to provide as many people as possible with easy training and further education.”
Vienna is growing and now has over two million inhabitants. A good part of the growth is due to immigration. Migrants make up 55 percent of waff’s employed customers. They often have to experience frustration in the labor market because the educational qualifications they have brought with them are not recognized in Austria. At the same time, opportunities on the labor market are decreasing and the risk of unemployment increases for employees without a formal qualification. More than half of unemployed Viennese have at most a compulsory school leaving certificate. The waff range is particularly extensive for these people. Funding of up to 5,000 euros is possible to obtain an apprenticeship qualification. For many people, German courses are the first step on the way to a better job. “The support of Viennese people in insecure working conditions is particularly important to me and waff is the right contact point for precisely these people,” emphasizes City Councilor for Economic Affairs Hanke.
A key goal of waff is equality in the labor market. Full-time employed women in Vienna still receive around 10.8% less income than men (Austria: 16.6%). In view of this situation, waff strengthens women with concrete programs and supports them in their professional advancement. These offers are very popular. “We encourage Viennese employees to make career changes, with free advice and financial support for further professional development. I am proud that two thirds of our customers are women,” says Monika Nigl.
Constellation of success: personal willingness meets waff support
Social scientist Günter Hefler from 3s research & consulting has been working on the topics of lifelong learning and professional development in national and international research projects for over 20 years. Hefler sees the high number of Viennese students reached in one year as a great success: “If you consider that the willingness to embark on further training is actually a scarce resource for people, this success can be rated very highly. While two thirds of adults redesign their educational and professional careers at least once in their lives, only one in 20 employees do so in a given year. For these Viennese people, waff offers essential support with its one-stop offering of advice and support that has been reliable for decades.”
Katrin Hofer and Sabrina and Stjepan Ruzic are examples of waff’s customers. Katrin Hofer completed training with the support of waff in 2013. In 2023, she began to specifically develop from mentoring advisor to a management role by advising and supporting waff. As a married couple, Sabrina and Stjepan Ruzic have decided to advance professionally. Both have completed an apprenticeship and passed the service examination in the federal service. With support from waff, they recently successfully passed the vocational qualification exam.
waff funding for Viennese people
In principle, basic funding for job-related training and further education is possible for all Viennese employees in the amount of 300 euros. Depending on income and initial qualifications, the funding can even be up to 5,000 euros.
Outlook for 2024: The trend towards training and further education continues
In 2024, the trend from 2023 will continue: Viennese people are in high demand for the advice and support offered by waff. In the first two months, around 3,000 Viennese have already set out with the support of waff and started training and further education. Around 18.4 million euros are available for this this year.
Broad information is provided about the waff offerings, for example at on-site consultations in the districts, information events and workshops. The continuing education database www.weiterbildung.at is one of the most extensive in Austria.
Those interested can arrange a consultation appointment at waff on 01 21748 555 or online. The waff advice center for careers and further training is located at Lassallestrasse 1/4. Stock, 1020 Vienna.
Questions & Contact:
Johann Baumgartner
Media spokesperson weapons
Tel.: 01 21748 330
Email: johann.baumgartner@waff.at