Woodwork at the vocational school | © Holzwelt Murau | Tom Lamm Woodwork at the vocational school | © Holzwelt Murau | Tom Lamm
The Green Heart of work and talents

WORK & TALENTS

Steiermark is one of the most innovative and liveable regions in Europe. A wide range of job opportunities and a stable economy make it an attractive place to live and work.

Small and medium-sized companies, globally active leading enterprises and hidden champions – the corporate landscape in the Green Heart of Austria is wonderfully diverse. This diversity also makes a significant contribution to the fact that Steiermark has a dynamic working environment paired with exciting professional opportunities and a high standard of living.

The Green Heart of Austria strives to promote innovation, attract new companies and continue to use its existing economic potential. This further encourages the positive development of the province and lays the foundation for a variety of job opportunities in different sectors. In addition to the strong areas of mobility, green tech, human technology and microelectronics, tourism and trade also offer plenty of opportunities

Young talents are particularly important in Steiermark. The unique dual training system combines theory and practice, perfectly preparing students for their further career path with an interplay of training phases in companies and vocational schools. There are around 200 different apprenticeships to choose from.

Working at Knapp | © dieindustrie.at | Mathias Kniepeiss
Working at Knapp | © dieindustrie.at | Mathias Kniepeiss
Painter's apprentice at Euroskills | © WKÖ/Skills Austria | Florian Wieser
Painter's apprentice at Euroskills | © WKÖ/Skills Austria | Florian Wieser
Preparing meals | © Regionalmanagement Südweststeiermark GmbH/webquartier | Webquartier e.U.
Preparing meals | © Regionalmanagement Südweststeiermark GmbH/webquartier | Webquartier e.U.
Workplace at Andritz | © dieindustrie.at | Mathias Kniepeiss
Workplace at Andritz | © dieindustrie.at | Mathias Kniepeiss
Hatmaker | © Regionalmanagement Südweststeiermark GmbH/webquartier | Webquartier e.U.
Hatmaker | © Regionalmanagement Südweststeiermark GmbH/webquartier | Webquartier e.U.
Work at XAL | © dieindustrie.at | Mathias Kniepeiss
Work at XAL | © dieindustrie.at | Mathias Kniepeiss
© dieindustrie.at | Mathias Kniepeiss
© dieindustrie.at | Mathias Kniepeiss
© dieindustrie.at | Mathias Kniepeiss
© dieindustrie.at | Mathias Kniepeiss
© dieindustrie.at | Mathias Kniepeiss
© dieindustrie.at | Mathias Kniepeiss
© dieindustrie.at | Mathias Kniepeiss
© dieindustrie.at | Mathias Kniepeiss

FIGURES ON WORK AND TALENTS IN Steiermark

  • The business location offers jobs and perspectives. In 2022, a new record was reached with 545,562 people in employment. This figure includes labourers, employees, apprentices and civil servants above the marginal income threshold as well as freelancers.
  • There is a constant demand for workers and specialists, with an average of more than 14,900 vacancies in 2023.
  • The dual training system is a great success in Steiermark. A total of 15,318 apprentices were trained in 2023, of which 4,787 were in their first year of training. The most popular apprenticeships are within metal technology, retail, electrical engineering and automotive technology.
  • Employees earned an average of 37,295 euros gross (without deducting taxes and duties) in 2022. Compared to the previous year of 2021, the annual salary increased by around 4.8 percent.
  • The Green Heart of Austria has many bright minds and great ideas. This is reflected in its start-ups, with 5,958 companies founded in 2023. That’s second place Austria-wide! Overall, every seventh start-up in Austria is based in the Green Heart of Austria.

DID YOU KNOW THAT...

... there are over 40,400 employers in Steiermark?

40,455 companies that employ people are based in the Green Heart of Austria, to be precise. Around 80 percent of these are micro-enterprises with a maximum of nine employees.

Around every fifth job is attributed to the manufacturing industry. The main areas are metal production and processing, the manufacture of metal products, vehicle construction, mechanical engineering and electrotechnology.

Apprentices have already won a total of 67 medals at international competitions. The EuroSkills championship in Graz was the most successful for Steiermark to date with eleven medals.

The 13th and 14th salaries are understood as special payments – often holiday and Christmas bonuses. Entitlement, amount and payment date are regulated in the respective collective agreement or employment contract.

Employees are well protected by labour law. The interests of employees are represented by the Chamber of Labour (AK) and the Austrian Trade Union Federation (ÖGB).

Work & Talents

interesting facts about Steiermark

Which companies have the highest turnover? What vacancies are there and how can I work in the Green Heart of Austria? The following links provide answers to questions about work and talents.

CINT Club International
The companies with the highest turnover
More informations
© Unsplash | Brooke Cagle
Group of successful business people happy in office | ©nd3000 - stock.adobe.com | ANDOR BUJDOSO
BETTER LIFE INDEX: WHY STeiermark IS WORTH LIVING
Living in Austria
Working together | © Pexels | Christina Morillo
© Unsplash | Kendall Ruth
© dieindustrie.at | Mathias Kniepeiss
Tettermoor in Schladming | © Steiermark Tourismus | Tom Lamm

BENEFITCARD - WORKING IN SCHLADMING-DACHSTEIN

As a sign of appreciation, all employees of Sommercard partner establishments have the opportunity to purchase a BenefitCard. The BenefitCard includes the same all-inclusives and discounts as the Schladming-Dachstein Sommercard.

THE THERMEN- & VULKANLAND EMPLOYEE CARD

The employee card opens the door to plenty of benefits in various areas, from discounts and events to workshops and joint activities.

mitarbeitercard.at | © Thermen- & Vulkanland | Christian Thomaser
Meetings in the green | © Steiermark Tourismus | Martina Haselwander

LIVING AND WORKING IN AUSTRIA

Here you will find an overview of the most important areas of public and private life in Austria and an insight into working in Austria.

learn more

even more Information

Further information on work and talents in Steiermark.

Our sources: