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On behalf of the Federal Trade Branch, the ibw has redesigned the job information folder “apprenticeship retail trade”.

Last published in the year 2001, the folder has been brushed up completely. Moreover, it is marked by new topics, texts especially adapted to youths, as well as modern graphic design.

It can be obtained in printed form from the Federal Trade Branch as well as all its provincial branches

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Order it at bestellung@ibw.at

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Contact: ic@wko.at

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The Evaluation of the Unternehmensgründungsprogramm (UGP) - the business start-up programme of the Austrian Labour Market Service (AMS - Arbeitsmarktservice Österreich) – shows predominantly highly positive results of the programme, which can be demonstrated for example by high “survival rates” and secondary employment effects. The achieved sustained success of the majority of the involved business start-ups justifies not only continuation but also extension and further development of this programme.

The Unternehmensgründungsprogramm (UGP), the business start-up programme of the Austrian Labour Market Service (AMS - Arbeitsmarktservice Österreich), provides support for unemployed people who are aiming to become self-employed. In addition to providing financial sponsorship for general living expenses during the period of setting up the business, the programme also comprises business advice from external management consultants and training programmes with a wide range of courses which can be selected as appropriate.

The large increase in the number of UGP participants demonstrates the need for this labour market programme. In the last 5 years (1999-2004), the number of business start-ups supported by the UGP more than doubled: with just under 2000 start-ups in the year 1999, rising to more than 4000 in the year 2004. 2004 about 15% of all business start-ups in Austria took place via the UGP business start-up programme. This means that the UGP has become a key element in the Austrian labour market and economic policy.

The results of this evaluation prove the impressive success of the programme. The evaluation includes: an analysis of international examples of “unemployment to self-employment” assistance programmes; an analysis of a range of secondary statistical data; individual case studies; and interviews with more than 1000 individuals who established businesses with the assistance of the UGP (“UGP Business Founders”) during the period 1999-2005, reporting on the progress and success of their business start-ups, and their satisfaction with AMS and the participating management consultants. The results of the study demonstrate not only that the UGP has fulfilled the goals of the labour market policy which led to its establishment, but that the programme has often exceeded expectations in various ways. Most notable is the stability and growth of the businesses established under the programme. Obviously it is essential, as in all new businesses, to overcome the high-risk, labour-intensive, and often personally demanding set-up stage. In fact, this last factor – the psychological strains experienced in the course of a start-up (such as the fear of failure) - were ranked as the third biggest difficulty, after the tax burden and the challenges of customer acquisition.

In spite of the difficulties associated with forming a new business the success of the UGP speaks for itself. Five years after start-up (for businesses established in the year 2000) 73% of all UGP Business Founders are still running their own business (see following diagram). A small percentage (6%) of them are both running their businesses and also in other employment. This “survival rate” of the UGP start-ups (from unemployment) is at least as high as that of “normal” (non-UGP) business start-ups. According to data of AMS Data Warehouse just about 6% of UGP Business Founders are unemployed again 5 years after participation in UGP. The (not self-employed) remainder of the Business Founders either found a different job (partly through their self-employment) or are retired or in maternity leave, etc.

Three years after start-up (for UGP Business Founders in the year 2002) 87% are still running their own businesses. This percentage of successful start-ups is, again, at least as high as that of comparable surveys of “normal” (non-UGP) business start-ups in Austria. In this context it is significant that business start-ups in Austria already have a “survival rate” above the international average. Undoubtedly, the UGP achieves sustained success and long-term quality.

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The Austrian Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Austrian Economic Chamber award Austria’s best training companies

“Quality creates advantage” – this is the motto of this year’s Austrian Fit for Future competition. This will be the sixth awarding of the much sought-after prize of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Economic Chamber.

he Austrian Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Austrian Economic Chamber award Austria’s best training companies

“Quality creates advantage” – this is the motto of this year’s Austrian Fit for Future competition. This will be the sixth awarding of the much sought-after prize of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Economic Chamber.

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The present contribution aims at giving consideration to both aspects: the performance of the apprenticeship system as well as the future problems that result from changes education choices and enlarged institutional education offers, the demographic structure of the population, and the need for qualification of a job world that is based on knowledge.oweverHowe

To achieve this, the significance of apprenticeship training in the system of education offers is presented in a temporal comparison in a span of roughly one generation.

Thereafter, the participation of companies (according to sectors and branches) in apprenticeship training is investigated, also relating to employment of apprenticeship completers.

Further steps in the analysis regard the situation on the labour market, trends of the employment system, and the actual jobs of people that went through the dual training system.

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This report discusses the main basics and results of an empirical study which aimed at a comparison of companies regarding different strategies in apprenticeship training. Based on the theory of human capital, an entirely new method of assessment was developed which allows for a definition of in-company training strategies and the extent of training benefit. The report bears significance both in micro- and macroeconomic terms.

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Results from a survey among students as well as the expert interviews on apprenticeship

Due to an ever growing international economic network and other economic activities (consider the terms globalisation, EU), the working population’s degree of knowledge about such connections is increasingly important. Especially graduates from first education system witness profound knowledge and understanding of international economic relations become more and more of an important factor of their employability. How well does the Austrian education system actually prepare young people for these challenges and opportunities?

The present ibw study gathered –for the first time in Austria and on a broad basis- essential aspects of attitudes and knowledge of Austrian school leavers regarding the topic of international economy. All in all, nearly 3,300 students in 280 senior year classes at 68 school locations were polled on the following aspects:

·         Readiness for mobility,

·         Interest in economic topics,

·         If and how international economy was a topic at school,

·         Self-assessment of the students as regards their degree of information acquired at school,

·         Economic knowledge of the students, and

·         The students’ attitude towards globalisation.

A study by order of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Labour and the Austrian Economic Chamber as part of the go international initiative.

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Increasing use of information and communication technologies has made the world a global village. Foreign language skills have accordingly gained importance. This holds especially for the working world, which is marked by international cooperation and vivid export activity. Companies thus depend on employees whose language skills exceed their mother tongue.

These developments are special challenges to the education system. Great emphasis must be placed on foreign languages in the curricula of training, apprenticeship and studies facilities, so as to prepare the students as best as we can for the changing world of work.

Two studies of the ibw that were made in the course of the “go international” initiative of the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Labour of Austria, shed light on foreign language acquisition as it presently is at schools on upper secondary level, and also on the economy’s current need for foreign languages. This article compares the main results of both studies.

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