Ernecl unfounded on the number of Maribor citizens working abroad

A candidate for mayor of Maribor, Aleš Ernecl, claimed during a live Facebook broadcast on October 1 that 50,000 residents of Maribor commute abroad for work. This statement was made during his campaign presentation and appears to refer to Maribor residents working in other countries. However, according to the latest available data from July 2024, the city had approximately 113,000 inhabitants. Ernecl's claim has drawn attention due to its magnitude, particularly given the lack of official statistics confirming such a high number of Maribor residents working outside Slovenia. The Union of Migrant Workers' Syndicate in Slovenia noted that there are no exact figures on how many Slovenian workers are employed abroad, including in Austria, which is geographically closest to Maribor. They estimated the number to be “very large.” According to the Austrian Statistical Office, there were 18,611 Slovenian citizens among cross-border workers in Austria in 2024. These figures come from the place of employment census. Officials at the office emphasized that these numbers are based on citizenship, not the location from which individuals travel to work. Therefore, it cannot be definitively stated that all 18,611 Slovenian citizens working in Austria commute from Slovenia. The Austrian statistical office added that a majority of Slovenian citizens working in Austria are likely based in Slovenia, with 13,826 working in Styria and 2,662 in Carinthia. These regions are close to Maribor, suggesting a plausible link between the two areas. In Slovenia, the Financial Administration (Furs) does not track the number of tax residents working in Austria. Instead, they have data on tax residents who declared income earned in Austria. According to the latest data for the 2024 tax year, 15,663 Slovenian tax residents declared income earned in Austria. Furs officials noted this number could still change, as taxpayers can declare foreign income later, such as through self-declaration. According to Furs, more than 33,000 tax residents from across Slovenia declared income from employment abroad in 2024, which is less than the 50,000 figure cited by Ernecl. The Slovenian Statistical Office (Surs) clarified that they do not maintain records of all Slovenians working in Austria. They provided data on insured individuals who usually reside in Slovenia and are covered by the health insurance system but work in neighboring countries. In 2024, 14,077 such individuals were recorded, down from the previous year. Most of them came from the Pomur and Primorska statistical regions. Surs officials explained that these figures do not represent all Slovenians working in Austria, but only those who are primarily insured in Slovenia and thus have access to healthcare benefits there, while their pension and disability insurance are handled in Austria. They also noted that these data do not indicate whether individuals migrate daily or weekly for work. Ernecl has been informed of these findings. His response will be published once received. Meanwhile, in Maribor, a career and job opportunities fair took place today at the Tabor Hall, organized by the State Employment Agency. It was the sixth such nationwide event this year, bringing together nearly 120 employers from both private and public sectors across various industries, along with key institutions providing career counseling and employment services. An online European job fair also ran concurrently, allowing job seekers to connect with both local and international employers. Numerous employers participated in the fair, offering valuable information to potential job seekers. Attendees had the opportunity to meet representatives from various companies, universities, and intervention services such as police officers, soldiers, and firefighters. A considerable number of visitors attended the event, gaining useful information, establishing initial contacts with potential employers, and possibly finding new career paths. Greta Metka Barbo Škerbinc, general director of the State Employment Agency, spoke about the importance of the career fair. She expressed satisfaction with the event’s growth, noting the increasing number of attendees and exhibitors, which creates new opportunities. She mentioned efforts to enrich the event with additional activities aimed at attracting both young and unemployed job seekers, helping employers find suitable candidates, and retaining talent in the region. She highlighted the agency’s goal of supporting athletes transitioning into the labor market and developing a network of employers eager to recruit individuals with skills such as responsibility, discipline, and teamwork. The agency also works with organizations to assist foreigners entering the labor market. Škerbinc emphasized the importance of knowing the Slovenian language, especially for jobs involving customer interaction. She noted the availability of free online courses for language learning, which the agency encourages for foreigners. Some professions allow newcomers to learn the language under mentorship before taking on independent roles. Štefan Kušar, state secretary at the Ministry for Economic Development, continued discussing changes in the labor market.