A 21% increase in the issuance of "Red-White-Red" cards to attract foreign workers to Austria.
Austria witnessed a significant increase in the issuance of "Red-White-Red" (RWR) cards in 2024, with 9,741 cards granted, representing a 21% increase compared to the previous year, according to the Ministry of Labor and Economy. This rise is a result of the reforms introduced in 2022 aimed at facilitating the recruitment of skilled foreign labor to address the acute skills shortage that Austria is facing, especially with the aging population expected to worsen in the coming decades.
Special focus on the Philippines and other countries Austria has concentrated its efforts on attracting workers from the Philippines, which has a population of over 100 million. In the fall of 2024, the government launched the "Pre-Check" program to expedite immigration processes, with 102 Filipino professional qualifications already approved under this program.
In addition to the Philippines, Austria is targeting other countries such as Brazil, Indonesia, Albania, and Kosovo as key sources for attracting labor. The healthcare sector has seen a 16% increase in the number of trainees, contributing to alleviating the shortage of personnel in this vital sector.
The number of workers coming from European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EWR) countries has also doubled, as a result of intensified efforts to attract European talents. These figures reflect Austria's successful strategy in addressing labor shortages by attracting foreign talents, with a focus on vital sectors such as healthcare and specialized industries.