Skills Shortage in IT: Act Now – Before It’s Too Late
Growth meets Bottleneck
Austria’s IT sector is booming: Over the past 15 years alone, the number of domestic ICT companies has nearly doubled—from 13,617 to 23,985—according to the UBIT trade association of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKÖ). At the same time, qualified IT professionals are in short supply. Projections indicate that by 2030, around 39,000 IT experts will be needed—a number that far exceeds current training capacities.
Despite rising numbers of university graduates especially in applied sciences, a gap remains and will only widen without targeted action. The time to invest in new talent pipelines has arrived.
Step2Coder: Discovering and supporting local talents
One innovative answer to the skills shortage is the Step2Coder project, initiated by the Association for the Promotion of Employment (FAB). Funded by the Public Employment Service (AMS), this four-month intensive course targets young people with an interest in IT who previously had no access to formal education.
Participants receive 30 hours of training per week, learning programming fundamentals and diving into topics like C#, Unity, web development, network security, and e-commerce. The course also includes job application training, one-on-one coaching, and recruiting days.
Ramona Toth, Head of Business Unit at FAB Salzburg, explains:
“With Step2Coder, we’re building a bridge between undiscovered talents and the urgent needs of the economy—a win for everyone involved.”
A case in point is David Pavkovic, a 2024 course graduate, now working in application development at Iovavum Business Solutions. His employer, Yvonne Kienberger, sees programs like Step2Coder as a valuable addition:
“In software development, it’s relatively easy for career changers to gain a foothold—if they have the right mindset.”
Skilled professionals from Third Countries: Tapping into international potential
Another promising approach to meet the growing demand for skilled professionals is recruiting qualified employees from third countries. Increasingly, companies are turning to targeted international recruitment – supported by specialized placement agencies.
These agencies provide comprehensive services: from candidate matching and organizing language courses to assistance with visas and administrative processes. The Red-White-Red Card (Austria) enables highly qualified third-country nationals to legally access the Austrian labor market.
According to world4europe.com:
“International professionals bring not only technical expertise but also cultural diversity and fresh thinking to a company—a real boost to innovation.”
Benefits for companies Include:
- Quick access to qualified IT professionals
- Enhanced innovation through diversity
- Administrative relief through specialized service providers
- Sustainable workforce development through targeted integration
Foresight over waitlists
Whether through local educational initiatives like Step2Coder or international recruitment from third countries, the early identification of new talent sources is essential. When demand becomes urgent, it’s often too late – and those companies that have invested early are clearly ahead.
Conclusion:
Those who explore new paths in talent acquisition today will strengthen their competitiveness tomorrow. Strategic workforce planning means acting now – before the shortage becomes a full-blown crisis.
Sources:
- Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKÖ) / UBIT trade association
- Interview material from FAB / Step2Coder / Salzburger Nachrichten, April 2025
- world4europe.com – International Skilled Workforce Promotion