Qualification funding for employees

PDF Version
Name of the instrument - Local language
Qualifizierungsförderung für Beschäftigte
Name of the instrument - English translation
Qualification funding for employees
Scheme ID
5
Country
Austria
Reporting year
2015
Type of instrument
Grant for companies
Type of entry
Single instrument
Short description

Companies with employees who have only completed compulsory education, an apprenticeship or a vocational school and are 45 years or older are entitled to apply for the grant to finance training activities (for each group there are specific conditions in relation to the training funded). Generally, public co-funding is 50% of the eligible costs. Funding is provided by the local branches of the Austrian Pubic Employment Service (AMS), following national rules; however, local differences in cost sharing formulas are possible. Beyond social security payments, ESF funds are used as an additional source of funding.

nap

Level of operation
National
Name of a part of the country
nap
Name of the region (for regional instruments)
nap
Name of the sector (for sectoral instruments)
nap
Relevance
Key scheme

§ 34 (2) Arbeitsmarktservicegesetz (Act on Public Employment Service).

Objective(s) and target(s)

The Austrian Public Employment Service (AMS) funds specific, vulnerable groups of employees in order to integrate them stronger into the training activities of companies.

Year of implementation
2000
Year of latest amendment
2015
Operation/management

Public Employment Service, AMS (local branch)

Eligible group(s)

Companies with employees who (each with specific conditions for the training funded): have only accomplished compulsory education , an apprenticeship or a vocational school and are 45 years or older.

Group(s) with preferential treatment

None

Education and training eligible

training courses that are labour marekt relevant corporately relevant

economic rationale required

Source of financing and collection mechanism

ESF and national funding
matching: companies

Financing formula and allocation mechanisms

50% of course fees;
50% of staff costs from te 33rd hour of the course. Not more than EUR 10 000 per person and application. Actual funding amounts can differ between the Bundesländer.

Allocation: First come - first served pinciple; money is transferred to employer as advance payment.

Eligible costs

Fees only

Frequency of the use

Specific rules/conditions for reuse

Volumes of funding

In 2013, the budget of the scheme was EUR 22 370 000.

Beneficiaries/take up

In 2011, some 5 000 companies benefited from the scheme. Due to this, more than 40 000 employees could be trained.

Organisation responsible for monitoring/evaluation

Public Employment Service Austria (AMS).

Monitoring/evaluation reports available

Helmut Mahringer, Evaluierung der Förderung betrieblicher Weiterbildung. Zielgruppenorientierung von "Qualifizierungsförderung für Beschäftigte" und "Qualifizierungsberatung für Betriebe" des AMS
WIFO-Monatsberichte, 2008, Wien

Most relevant webpage - in English

na

Most relevant webpage - local language

http://www.ams.at/service-unternehmen/qualifizierung/qualifizierungsfoe…

Recent changes

With the new ESF period, the scheme was newly set up (with new eligibility criteria); it is valid from 1 January 2015 (for training offers to 31.12.2017).

Sources

Arbeitsmarktservice Österreich (2014) Geschäftsbericht 2013. Wien

Arbeitsmarktservice Österreich (2013) Geschäftsbericht 2012. Wien

On this page: