ABSTRACT
Since the 1960s Austria has developed into a country of both immigration and emigration, a demographic change that requires policy makers to look beyond Austria’s favourable unemployment figures and economic indicators in relation to other EU nation states. These unemployment rates almost double when it comes to foreigners or people with a migration background. As has been demonstrated by studies such as the 2012 PISA Report, Austria continues to show big differences regarding the education of these groups, with migrants from Germany dominating the higher levels of education, whilst the lower levels are over-represented by migrants from Turkey, former Yugoslavia and other non-EU states. An additional risk for this group involves its members completing their compulsory education without a Certificate of Secondary Education. This in turn can lower their employment chances, particularly if no further educational routes such as the popular on-the-job training schemes (apprenticeships) are chosen. However, when the participation in this system remains a primary goal of teenagers leaving formal education this can reduce entry levels to higher education facilities. This chapter will expand on the essential challenges surrounding the issues of education, work integration and migration in Austria with a particular focus on how migration demographics are relevant to the key areas of social risk. The chapter concludes with a case example to provoke discussion and reflection and a brief consideration of the potential future strategies in this key field of social policy and social work.
