At risk of poverty despite having a job: these occupations are particularly affected

Nine percent of Austria’s population are at risk of poverty despite being employed, according to a data analysis conducted by the employer comparison platform Kununu. Nearly 361,000 working individuals in the country fall into this category, earning just enough to cover basic expenses such as rent and groceries. These workers, referred to as “working poor,” earn below the threshold defined by the European Union for being considered at risk of poverty. The median net income for Austrian private households currently stands at €51,152 per year, adjusted for household size to calculate an equivalent net household income of €36,546. Individuals with less than 60% of this amount, equivalent to around €1,827 per month for a single-person household, are classified as being at risk of poverty. Low incomes are particularly prevalent in certain professions. Between 2024 and 2026, Kununu analyzed anonymous salary data from employees, revealing that 22 job categories have average annual gross salaries below €31,000, resulting in net incomes under the poverty threshold of €21,927. Jobs in the hospitality sector are among the most affected. Kitchen assistants earn approximately €26,555 annually, while restaurant staff earn around €27,475. Bartenders and service workers also fall within this range. Dario Wilding, head of external communications at Kununu, noted that these roles often involve part-time, shift-based, or seasonal work and are situated in industries facing high costs and competitive pressures. Other professions contributing to the trend include animal caretakers and retail salespersons. The retail sector, traditionally viewed as offering stable employment opportunities, is increasingly marked by low wages. Wilding emphasized that the issue extends beyond niche or helper roles, affecting broader segments of the workforce. Factors contributing to low wages include the high proportion of part-time positions in retail, the pressure from margins in the industry, and limited wage increases. Analysis shows that earnings in the lower pay bracket have only slightly increased despite inflation, whereas workers with mid-range or higher incomes have benefited more significantly from wage growth. If this pattern continues, the risk of poverty among employed individuals could rise further in the coming years.