More than 150 job-seeking refugees, beneficiaries of subsidiary protection, and Ukrainian displaced persons met directly with representatives from 13 companies with staffing needs at a career platform organized by the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF) at the Landhaus in Innsbruck. The participants, currently attending ÖIF German courses, learned about open positions and entry-level employment opportunities, even with limited German language skills. Participating companies included Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB), PORR, HOFER, MPREIS, Innsbruck Transport Authority (IVB), AC Hotel Innsbruck, the PLETZER Group, Newrest, INNOS, teampool, Job Experts, Tiroler Jobs, and amg tirol. On-site, participants were able to speak directly with company representatives and conduct initial job interviews. The career platform took place on Monday, September 21, 2026, and Deputy Governor Philip Wohlgemuth also attended.
Deputy Governor Philip Wohlgemuth: “Integration works best where people are given the opportunity to take responsibility and stand on their own two feet. The crucial key to this is work. Our goal must therefore be to get people who can live and work here into employment as quickly as possible – instead of making them permanently dependent on state benefits. This benefits the individuals themselves, our businesses, and ultimately society as a whole. The ÖIF career platform addresses precisely this need and brings job seekers and Tyrolean companies together in a very concrete way.”
Roland Goiser, Deputy Director of the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF): “ Learning German and working must go hand in hand for integration. Especially in sectors like construction, gastronomy, hospitality, and transportation, the demand for skilled workers and professionals is enormous, and starting out is often possible even with limited German language skills. The ÖIF career platforms connect job-seeking participants from ÖIF German courses directly and easily with companies – so that learning German and working are linked as early as possible .”
Career opportunities: Over 200 career platforms already available throughout Austria
The Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF) conducts career platforms throughout Austria to connect companies with staffing needs and job-seeking participants from ÖIF German language courses. Companies such as Lidl, REWE, IKEA, and Austrian Post can connect directly with applicants at information events and inform them about open positions, apprenticeships, and entry-level and employment opportunities for those with limited German language skills. Participants can speak with potential employers, apply for open positions, or schedule interviews. To date, over 30,000 refugees, beneficiaries of subsidiary protection, and Ukrainian displaced persons have participated in more than 200 ÖIF career platforms across Austria. During the events, the ÖIF also provides information about work-integrated German language learning opportunities and supports participants with CV reviews and professional headshots to facilitate their rapid entry into the job market. More information is available at www.karriereplattform.at .
A wide range of German learning opportunities promotes language acquisition alongside work
With a comprehensive range of options for learning German alongside employment, the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF) offers refugees, displaced persons, and those granted subsidiary protection the opportunity to continuously improve their German language skills while working or fulfilling caregiving responsibilities. This includes traditional ÖIF German courses offered by course providers during off-peak hours and on weekends, as well as online German courses. In addition, the ÖIF language portal offers more than 70 free live online German courses per week, which are freely accessible regardless of residency status. Furthermore, Austria's largest freely accessible online German learning platform offers job-specific online German courses, enabling learners to expand and deepen their language skills for various sectors – such as gastronomy, hospitality and tourism, food retail, or caregiving. More information is available at www.sprachportal.at .