Austria

By: Kacie Matthews

Country Overview

As of 2024, Austria, located in Central Europe, has a population of 9.2 million, and almost three million of the population are migrant workers, roughly around 28% of the country's total population. Austrian Migrant workers make one-third of the economy, an important part of the funds, and internal revenue within Austria.

Statistics

• Three million migrant workers (3,000,000)

• Main employment Sectors: Tourism, Construction, and Retail. 

• 70% of all migrant workers work towards tourism and accommodation, 59% of all migrant workers work in construction, and 45% of all migrant workers work in retail. 

• Participation rates: 80% for Males and 56% for Females. 

Top Countries of Origin

1. India

2. China

3. Philippines

Remittance Data

• Share of GDP: Around 0.69%

• Annual Remittance Inflow: Undisclosed

Legal Gaps

With the given compensation, and payment problems, legal gaps arise; including weak protections, regulatory gaps, and enforcement issues. Due to immigration status, migrant workers aren’t paid overtime for their jobs, and aren’t paid or subjected to government benefits such as maximum working hours, salary, working conditions and much more. Many migrant workers don’t report these harmful events, and exploitation as it might bring negative consequences, such as deportation, investigation, and loss of jobs. 

NGL & Support Resources

• Federal Ministry European

• International Affairs Republic of Austria

• UN Refugee Agency

“You see, if you have legal papers, Austria is a very good country to live in. Especially Vienna. But if you are here just waiting for a decision over your life, then it’s horrible. Two years ago, I didn’t want to stay in Austria. I didn’t see any future for me back then. But now that I have a Geneva Convention Passport, things are very different. Now I feel like I have everything. Now I want to stay” (Jahangir, 2015).

Sources

“Counter-Trafficking | IOM Austria, UN Migration | IOM Austria.” Iom.int, 2023, austria.iom.int/counter-trafficking. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.

“Austria - United States Department of State.” United States Department of State, 24 June 2024, www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report/austria/.

Cillo, Rossana, and Fabio Perocco. Posted Workers in Austria. 2022, edizionicafoscari.unive.it/media/pdf/books/978-88-6969-516-2/978-88-6969-516-2-ch-07.pdf.

“Migration (Total).” STATISTICS AUSTRIA, www.statistik.at/en/statistics/population-and-society/population/migration-and-naturalisation/migration-total.

Summereder, Magdalena. “People of Vienna: A Refugee’s Story - Vienna Würstelstand.” Vienna Würstelstand, 27 Sept. 2020, viennawurstelstand.com/article/people-of-vienna-a-refugees-story/. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.