Vienna starts promoting women: 1.7 million euros for 100 new jobs!

Vienna starts promoting women: 1.7 million euros for 100 new jobs!

Something is happening for women on the job market in Vienna! The Vienna Women's Support Foundation, launched today, is sending a strong signal for the professional qualification of women. Under the motto “Equality needs support,” 100 women will be given the opportunity to improve their career prospects and build bridges to sustainable employment. Managing director of the Vienna Employees' Promotion Fund (waff) Marko Miloradović emphasizes: "The women's foundation is intended to help compensate for the disadvantages of women in the labor market," such as Today reported.

A look at the previous participants makes the need clear. Annika, 45 years old, has worked in cleaning for two decades and is looking for new career paths due to health challenges. 27-year-old Sarah is a single parent and has stopped her apprenticeship as a dental assistant; she is looking for technical training to improve her job prospects. Such examples are not uncommon, the waff also emphasizes. Women in particular who look after children or care for relatives often have difficulty getting back into working life.

Conditions of participation and support

The call for tenders for the 100 places is already underway and the first training courses will start in autumn 2025. The support package includes free training worth an average of 7,000 euros, coverage of the training costs and a monthly subsidy of 300 euros. During the training, the selected women continue to receive their unemployment benefit.

The City of Vienna is investing a total of 1.7 million euros in this pilot project, which was launched in collaboration with the AMS, to promote women. Mayor Michael Ludwig explained at the presentation that the goal was to help women complete vocational training and find good working conditions. “This is also a strong signal for Vienna as a business location,” he added.

A look at the numbers

A few exciting statistics underscore the need for such initiatives. In Vienna, over 52,000 women are unemployed, of which 17,764 only have a compulsory school leaving certificate. With a labor force participation rate of 76%, Vienna has the highest rate in Austria, but the part-time rate for women is 43%, below the Austrian average of 52%. The gender pay gap in Vienna is around 10% lower compared to the national average, but is still a significant 20.9% for highly qualified positions, according to data from the Federal Foundation for Equality show.

The Women's Promotion Foundation's program is aimed at women aged 25 and over who are pre-registered with the AMS Vienna and have to get by without having completed vocational training. Women returning to work who want to return to work due to family-related interruptions or care work are particularly addressed. It's a clear message: education and professional qualifications are the key to a better life!

Vienna is not only focusing on individual support, but also on strengthening the entire business location. The city has a lot to offer, and the Women's Promotion Foundation is another important step towards equal opportunities. As Mayor Ludwig aptly put it: “We are investing in well-trained specialists who will strengthen our economy.” This initiative has the potential to not only improve the living conditions of women, but also to advance the entire Viennese economy OTS reported.