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EDUCATION

‘Better pay in Germany’: Why is Austria’s teacher shortage getting worse?

Austria needs at least 4,000 teachers to join the workforce yearly, but last year there were 8,600 positions advertised. So why does the situation seem to be getting worse?

Published: 3 March 2023 16:41 CET
'Better pay in Germany': Why is Austria's teacher shortage getting worse?
A classroom with children (Photo by Josep LAGO / AFP)

Not unlike other European countries, Austria suffers from a labour shortage that tends to get worse as the “baby boomer” generation retires. It affects all sectors of the economy, including health care and education – and teachers throughout Austria have said that the situation is becoming unbearable.

In education, not only the retirement wave affects the workforce, but more people are looking for part-time jobs (around one-third of teachers in Austrian schools work part-time) or changing career paths altogether, with complaints from difficulty in finding childcare options to the demands of the teaching career not being in line with the salaries (especially starting salaries). 

READ ALSO: Energy, corruption, labour shortage: Austria’s plans to face its major challenges

Additionally, Austria’s long teacher training programme, which contains a one-year “introduction” phase after the four-year bachelor’s degree and then the minimum one-year master’s degree. However, as the situation worsens, more and more “lateral entrants” (Quereinsteiger), candidates without complete formal training, are being hired. 

According to an APA roundup of education directorates and state governments, other factors, including demographics and geographic conditions in some provinces, make things more complicated. 

The federal government still needs to announce consolidated data on the issue, but in 2022, 8,600 positions were advertised before the September school year. Generally, about 4,000 teacher positions become vacant yearly due to retirement, relocation, paternal leave, or other reasons.

Here's what The Local's readers think of the Italian school system. Photo
Photo by JEFF PACHOUD / AFP

Better pay elsewhere

Teachers’ unions in Austria fear the staff shortage crisis will worsen as German state Bavaria has started a campaign to attract workers from other states and German-speaking countries with bonuses and better salaries. 

In Vorarlberg, many teachers already choose to commute to Switzerland, where salaries are much higher, said the category representative Paul Kimberger to the website Oberösterreichische Nachrichten on Tuesday.

“Austria is no longer competitive,” he added.

The Bavarian state premier (a role similar to Austrian governors) Markus Söder (CSU) has announced that the state will have 6,000 teaching positions by 2028, on top of a shortage of 4,000 people in compulsory schools. 

READ ALSO: Four things foreigners in Austria need to know about the education system

At €4,774 gross per month, the starting salary in the southern German state is higher than in Austria (€3,116). In addition, the state would offer a €3,000 bonus for working in a region with a staff shortage and compensation for relocation costs.

“We can’t keep up with that,” said trade unionist and ÖVP National Council member Gertraud Salzmann on Ö1’s “Morgenjournal.”

“If salaries are heading towards €5,000, then the ministry and the legislature must make them significantly more attractive,” Kimberger demanded in the Oberösterreichische Nachrichten. In Austria, however, financial incentives “are not even being considered,” criticised Upper Austrian AHS trade unionist Werner Hittenberger (FCG).

What is the government doing to improve the situation?

Austria’s Ministry of Education has an action programme nicknamed ‘Klasse Job’ (a wordplay on the words for “great” and “class”) to combat the teacher shortage.

Minister Martin Polaschek (ÖVP) said that the government wants to make schools more attractive places to be and to work at. Additionally, he said the teaching profession should be promoted more strongly among students. 

The government strategy also focuses on personnel management and recruiting – two current bottlenecks in Austria. Last year, the government launched a €600,000 campaign to promote the profession.

READ ALSO: Reader question: Is homeschooling legal in Austria?

Another part of the strategy includes revising the teacher training – the government wants to promote full-time work after completing a bachelor’s degree while the teacher completes their master’s. 

The changeover in elementary school teacher training from the current four years of a bachelor’s degree and one year of a master’s degree to three years of a bachelor’s degree plus two years of a master’s degree is already fixed. It should be implemented in 2024/25, according to Vienna.at. 

This year, around 4,300 teachers hired at Austria’s compulsory schools did not have the classical teacher training, but this number should rise soon to combat shortages, according to an ORF report. In addition, the federal government is promoting courses for people with a “suitable” degree and professional experience to start studying at teacher training colleges in the fall. 

When fully developed, the ministry expects 200 to 300 graduates in the programme every year.

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LIVING IN AUSTRIA

What kind of kindergartens can you choose from in Vienna?

Vienna is known for affordable and high-quality childcare. Parents can choose between four different models of kindergartens. Here's what you need to know about them.

Published: 10 April 2024 11:08 CEST
Updated: 10 April 2024 13:10 CEST
What kind of kindergartens can you choose from in Vienna?

(All prices are 2024 values)

If your child is turning three soon and you live in Vienna, it might be time to think about which kindergarten to attend. While living in the capital, you have a wide range of kindergartens to choose from, which can be overwhelming, especially if you are new to the country.

In Vienna, children have the option to attend different types of kindergartens, such as a public one or a private (but heavily subsidised) kindergarten. When deciding which is right for your child, it’s a good idea to ask family and friends for recommendations, to read about the different options online and also to try out a day in a kindergarten together with your child. 

If you want to know your options and what is close to where you live, you can take a look at this map, which points out the different kindergartens and their locations.

As a parent, you can register your child for kindergarten at any time, regardless of the school year. However, registering during the main registration period in November and December can increase the chances of securing a spot in your preferred childcare centre.

A playroom for children. Photo by Gautam Arora on Unsplash

READ ALSO: Which Austrian states offer free public kindergartens?

Different types of kindergartens

The main types of kindergartens in Vienna are public, private, or parent-run kindergartens. In addition, there are also so-called Betriebskindergärten, run by companies mainly for their employees’ children.

Public kindergartens

Public kindergartens in Vienna are funded and regulated by the city government. They are often operated by municipal departments or educational authorities and follow certain standards and guidelines set by the government to create safety, well-being, and educational quality. 

In Vienna, children can attend public kindergartens for free; the only expenses parents need to cover are €79.95 per month for food, along with some other extra smaller costs for materials and activities.

Each group in a public kindergarten holds a maximum of 25 children, with responsibilities shared by a team of mostly three staff members, including two main teachers and one assistant.

Most public kindergartens are open from 7am to 6pm, making them a good option if you are a full-time working parent.

You can register your child for a public kindergarten online.

Private kindergartens

Although private kindergartens are a more expensive than public, they are still quite affordable. In general, private kindergartens cost around €250 per month, since some of the costs are subsidised by the government.

Private kindergartens tend to offer children a bit more attention than the public ones. There is often one teacher for as few as seven children. They also offer more specific educational programs, such as fully English-spoken education, Montessori pedagogics, bilingual alternatives, or religious approaches.

The City of Vienna subsidises places at private kindergartens with up to the following amounts which are directly paid to the private institution:

  • For children under 3.5 years: €762.57
  • For children from 3.5 years to compulsory school age:
    • Full-day care: €520.20
    • Part-time care: €428.21
    • Half-day care: €309.99 

When applying for a private kindergarten, you need to apply for a “Kundennummer” (customer number) through Stadt Wien and then use it to register your child directly at the chosen educational institution.

Children playing together inside. Photo by BBC Creative on Unsplash

Parent-run kindergarten

A parent-run kindergarten typically has mid-size groups of children. It involves having two to three staff members for around 15 children at a time. Usually, the staff members are the children’s parents, with the idea of creating a more familiar atmosphere where parents have a greater say in their child’s education.

A parent-run kindergarten is usually run by an association board where the parents function and take care of finances, organisation, cleaning, cooking, and possible renovations. All parents in the association are required to contribute both financially and with their working hours.

In Vienna, parent-run kindergartens usually comes with lower costs for parents than private kindergartens. Parent-run kindergartens normally receive subsidies and funding from the local government to help cover operating costs such as staff salaries, utilities, and materials. The level of support normally depends on factors such as the number of children enrolled and the qualifications of staff members. 

Here you can take a look at some different options if you are interested in participating in a parent-run kindergarten. 

Betriebskindergärten

This type of kindergarten, provided by companies for their employees as a benefit, is often offered free of charge, with space sometimes available also for children of non-employees.

Betriebskindergärten are typically created by large companies such as Austria’s national railway company, ÖBB, to make life easier for employees and to be seen as attractive employers on the market. They are usually financed mainly by the companies themselves but can also receive support from the government.

Depending on the specific Betriebskindergarten, the group size and number of teachers can vary.

Here is a list with Vienna’s kindergartens run by different companies. 

READ MORE: How can foreign nationals bring their family members to Austria?

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