Vienna at a Glance
Working in Vienna
iStockphotoVienna's business sector is among the busiest in Central Europe.
Working in Vienna: Economy
As is typical for the Western industrialized world today, most jobs in Vienna are found in the service sector. 72% of businesses operate in this sector, with industry and agriculture amounting to 27% and 1%, respectively.
Vienna, which constitutes both a city and its own federal state, contributes over 25% of Austria’s gross national product. It is thus one of the five wealthiest regions in Europe. Most people working in Vienna have jobs in the service sector. Roughly one third of these employees earn a living in trade, real estate, leasing and business services. Overall, the overwhelming majority of revenue generated in Vienna (approximately 83%) is made within the tertiary sector.
Working in Vienna does not automatically imply working in Vienna’s busy city center. While agriculture is a rather marginal sector in terms of turnover, its importance in the city is fairly large. 900 farming and gardening companies are currently working in Vienna proper, that is, within the city limits. The agricultural sector was allotted about 16% of Vienna’s municipal area, providing town and suburbs with 50.000 tons of produce per year. The most common crops are tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and radish.
Working in Vienna: Tertiary Sector
Vienna is a world-famous city on par in beauty with places such as Paris, Berlin or Rome, and home of many historic sites and unparalleled works of art. Thus, Vienna profits considerably from the crowds of tourists that visit the city throughout the year. Not only does this benefit those working in Vienna’s many hotels, cafés and tourist hotspots, but it also helps establish and consolidate its reputation as a metropolis.
Working in Vienna’s large media sector, with its numerous national and local newspapers, radio stations and TV channels, is also a popular career choice for many people. The big international media conglomerates have subsidiaries here, and, of course, many correspondents from major news agencies make a living working in Vienna.
In its function as an economic driving force and renowned metropolis, Vienna is a major hub in Europe, boasting branches and headquarters of countless multinational corporations. Many expats working in Vienna are employed at one of these companies. Nearly every Austrian bank and large national company has its headquarters in the city, and working in Vienna is an important career step for quite a few employees. Most companies in the Global 500 are represented here as well. Companies from the eastern regions of Europe value working in Vienna: They enjoy the strategically favorable position between Central and Eastern Europe.
Working in Vienna: Opportunities for Expats
The overall economic trend of the past few years has shown considerable annual growth. While Vienna has also suffered from the global financial crisis, the consequences have been comparably mild. The city still offers career opportunities to expats in virtually any line of work and business. This makes working in Vienna a prestigious, lucrative and sensible decision.
If you seriously consider working in Vienna, you can find assistance at one of the many relocation providers located in the city. These consulting businesses offer valuable help and are often also hired by larger companies.
The city itself is also well aware of the international appeal of working in Vienna, and it has reacted accordingly. A newly founded center for expats working in Vienna serves as a contact point and offers advice on different aspects of expat life. Please see our section about living in Vienna for further information.
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