AustriaAustria's Minister of Labour, Korinna Schumann (SPÖ), has outlined new labor market policies aimed at addressing challenges such as demographic change. The focus is on increasing employment opportunities for women, older workers, and those with refugee backgrounds. According to a study by the Austrian Institute of Economic Research (WIFO), there could be a shortage of around 51,000 skilled workers between 2024 and 2029. Schumann emphasized the untapped potential of women in the workforce, noting that only 46% of non-self-employed women worked full-time compared to 81% of men. She proposed allocating additional AMS funding to support women's employment. Regarding older workers, she advocated for a bonus-malus system to encourage their continued participation in the labor market, though this has yet to be agreed upon with coalition partners. WIFO economist Helmut Mahringer also supports incentives for companies to hire older workers.
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