Medium-term Employment Forecast for Austria. Occupational and Sectoral Changes up to 2010

Reflecting the ongoing structural change, job profiles and skill requirements will change in any given economy. The labour market, however, takes its time in adjusting to new requirements. Against this background, medium-term projections for the demand for labour can help to identify future qualification requirements early and thus support individual as well as political planning processes. Methodologically, the forecast of employment development by occupations and sectors up to 2010 is based on a sectoral econometrical model of the Austrian economy and a model to forecast occupational demand. An estimate of employment for 34 sectoral groups and 57 occupational groups shows that the services sector will continue to be the driving force for employment growth (especially company services, health care and social services). Occupations in general show a trend towards service occupations and jobs involving customer contacts. Furthermore, demand for more highly qualified occupations is clearly on the rise, as is demand for auxiliary service jobs.