Shortage of staff: "At the first ski refuges, there are days of rest"

Shortage of staff: "At the first ski refuges, there are days of rest"

VIENNA. In tourism, there are many vacancies. There is a shortage of skilled workers. According to AMS, 9,000 jobs were available in the hotel and restaurant sectors in October.

(Icon) Picture: (EPA)

"We are in a European competition," Petra Nocker-Schwarzenbacher, Head of the Tourism and Leisure Industry Division of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKÖ), told reporters on Tuesday. Employees have an urgent need – "no matter where you ask".

In October, according to AMS, 9,000 jobs were available in the restaurant and hotel industry, including 1,650 apprenticeships. The industry is growing: this year alone, 5,000 employees have been added each month. In July, the workforce reached 238,000. "You see, the experts are not fleeing us, but the demand is increasing," said Nocker-Schwarzenbacher. "Since 2009, we have created 40,000 additional jobs."

Additional days of rest in companies

Meanwhile, the shortage of staff is so strong that companies would be forced to introduce extra days of rest. "Even in the first ski cabins, there are unthinkable days off a few years ago," said the sector spokeswoman. "And not only do we feel it," says the owner of the hotel. There are enough ski instructors, but not enough staff in the ski rental stations or in the wellness areas of the hotels. "We also have guides who do not speak the languages ​​you want and, on the other hand, people who are able to speak them but who are not well trained as guides," said Nocker-Schwarzenbacher.

In this context, the Tourism Executive regretted that the statutory seasonal quota for non-European workers has not been increased this year. "We have 1,100 seasonal seats for the winter, which is the same as the year before, but unfortunately has not been increased." Compared to the 240,000 or so employees in the industry, that's not enough.

Envious looks abroad

Nocker-Schwarzenbacher turns hauntingly towards Croatia: "The contingent goes from 8,000 to 15,000 people". The neighboring country would also have "a big hole" with skilled workers, there were always 20,000 workers wanted.

In Germany, he is currently being helped for the first time by a "federal skilled labor immigration law", to be pbaded by Cabinet on December 19 and to enter into force three times a year. months later. Third-country nationals, who are sufficiently qualified and have a contract of employment, should be allowed to come and work in the country.

Cooks on the list of manufacturers?

In Austria, however, the industry is also eagerly awaiting the new professional regulation, expected by mid-December. "We hope that the cooks have been kept on the shortage list (from the Ministry of Social Affairs, note) and would like to know about it early in December, so that they can be used from January," noted Nocker-Schwarzenbacher .

This year, the cooks again reached a number of applications of 1.3, or 1.3 candidates for 1 vacancy across Austria. The mandatory threshold to be included in the list of shortages, however, is 1.5. Tourism experts have long argued that demand values ​​are determined at the national level. In Tyrol and Vorarlberg demand is much higher than in eastern Austria.

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