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Hire in Austria in 3 easy steps

When you think of Austria, you probably think of its castles and palaces, classical music, waltz, and of course, the alps and the coffee houses. But did you know the country is also known for its highly educated and skilled workforce? Let us show you why and how you can hire and manage your remote team from Austria.

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Onboard your talent in Austria in 10 minutes

If you’re considering hiring your next candidate in Austria, you’ve landed in the right place. After helping hundreds of businesses onboard their remote hires, we have achieved excellent expertise in the country. Our team of experts and tech solutions will make this incredibly easy for you.

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Expense check

Identify taxable talent expenses easily. No more manual sorting & human errors. Get 100% protection from tax liabilities

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Equipment management

Send laptops and other devices to your remote employees in Austria through our platform with just a few clicks

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Guidance & payroll management

Receive process support by an experienced team of experts & pay your talent on time and in their local currency

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Hire in Austria through an EOR

Easily onboard your remote talent in Austria through our Employer of Record (EOR) solution. Our subsidiaries and network partners make this process fast and 100% compliant.

A quick overview of Austria

Time zone

UTC+1

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Paid leave

30 days

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Minimum wage

Regulated by CBAs

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Currency

EUR

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Public holidays

13 days

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Payroll frequency

Monthly

What makes Austria’s talent great?

Austria's talent is characterised by its high level of education, technical proficiency, work ethic, and adaptability to global markets. Its central location in Europe and strong ties to neighbouring countries contribute to a global mindset among its workforce. Many Austrians are comfortable working in international and multicultural settings.

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Technical expertise

Austria has a strong tradition of technical expertise, particularly in fields like engineering, manufacturing, and technology. This technical prowess contributes to innovation and competitiveness. Austrian workers are also known for their strong work ethic, professionalism, and dedication.

High-quality education

Austria has a well-established and high-quality education system, with a strong emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. Austrian universities and technical institutions consistently produce skilled graduates.

Innovation & research

Austria places a significant focus on innovation and research. The country has a robust research and development ecosystem, fostering innovation and creativity among its talent. Austria has a growing entrepreneurial ecosystem with a focus on startups and innovation.

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Get more detailed info about Austria’s hiring landscape

Basic facts

Austria is a federal republic comprising nine provinces covering an area of 83,878 square kilometres. It is bordered by Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, and Italy. The Austrian economic structure is mainly dominated by small and medium enterprises. The most important industrial branches are food, machine and steel, chemical and vehicle, electric and electronic, and wood and paper industry. In terms of employment by economic sector, the service sector is the largest employer (70.99%), followed by industry (25.36%), and agriculture (3.65%).

*Please note that the official currency is the currency of remuneration when employed through WorkMotion in Austria.

Capital

Vienna

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Population

8.96 M

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VAT - standard rate

20%

Statutory holidays

There are 13 annual Austrian bank holidays observed by the whole country, as well as, some state holidays that are only acknowledged in certain states.

The holidays mentioned below are valid for the year 2024.

Date Holiday Name
January 1 New Year
January 6 Epiphany
April 1 Easter Monday
May 1 Labor Day
May 9 Ascension Day
May 20 Whit Monday
May 30 Corpus Christi
August 15 Assumption of the Virgin Mary
October 26 National Day
November 1 All Saints' Day
December 8 Immaculate Conception
December 25 December 25
December 26 St. Stephen’s Day

Contract sharing time

The approximate time for sharing the contract with an employee in Austria is 4 business days assuming no special requests or changes to our standard employment contract. Any such requests or changes would need to undergo internal and external review, directly leading to a time delay.

What you need to know

Labour conditions

Leave / time off

The Social Security contribution covers contributions to health insurance, pension insurance, unemployment, and accident insurance.

The following employer contribution rates apply:

Benefits Employee Contribution Employer Contribution
Health Insurance 3.87% 3.78%
Accident Insurance - 1.2%
Pension Insurance 10.25% 12.55%
*Unemployment Insurance 3% 3%
Insolvency payment protection - 0.1%
Company provision - 1.53%
Chamber of Labor contribution 0.5% -
Housing Subsidies 0.5% 0.5%
Municipal Tax - 3%
Total 18.12% 25.66%

Health insurance

In Austria, the principle of compulsory insurance applies. Insurance cover is therefore automatically created by law and exists in principle for all employed or self-employed people in Austria as well as for certain relatives.

The statutory health insurance system offers the insured and their co-insured family members comprehensive protection in case of any illness. The employer rate of contribution towards health insurance is 3.78%.

Accident insurance

The statutory work accident insurance scheme offers protection against the occurrence of and the consequences of accidents at work and occupational diseases. The scheme covers employees while at work or traveling to or from work. Cover includes measures to prevent accidents as well as benefits in the event of injury. The employer rate of contribution towards accident insurance is 1.2%

Unemployment insurance

All employees, trainees, and participants of vocational rehabilitation with earnings above the marginal earnings threshold (Geringfügigkeitsgrenze of €386.80 per month) are covered by unemployment insurance.

Payment of benefits in the event of unemployment and verification of entitlement to such benefits is the responsibility of the Labor Market Service (Arbeitsmarktservice). The employer rate of contribution towards unemployment insurance is 3%

Public pension

All employees, trainees, and participants of vocational rehabilitation with earnings above the marginal earnings threshold (Geringfügigkeitsgrenze of €386.80 per month) are covered by unemployment insurance. Payment of benefits in the event of unemployment and verification of entitlement to such benefits is the responsibility of the Labor Market Service (Arbeitsmarktservice). The employer rate of contribution towards unemployment insurance is 3%

Other Statutory Benefits

Survivors’ Pension

If the surviving spouse (or dependent former spouse) of a deceased insured person has reached the age of 35 or if the marriage has produced a child, a widow or widower’s pension (Witwenpension or Witwerpension) may be claimed.

Invalidity benefits

The invalidity benefit falls under the broader Pension Insurance where the employer contributes 12.55%. In order to be entitled to an invalidity pension (Invaliditätsrente), employees should have completed at least 60 months of insurance in the last 120 calendar months.

A qualifying period is not required if invalidity is the result of an accident at work or an occupational disease. It is also not required in the event that invalidity occurs before a person reaches the age of 27 if a person has been insured for at least six months.