Skilled Workers' Grant

Name of the instrument - Local language: Fachkräftestipendium
Name of the instrument - English translation: Skilled Workers' Grant
Scheme ID: 328
Country: Austria
Reporting year: 2020
Type of instrument: Grant for individuals
Sub-type of instrument: Lump-sum support
Type of entry: Single instrument

Short description: The scheme provides a wage-replacement payment for workers who have no higher education qualifications during participation in educational programmes selected by the dedicated body (published in a yearly list) for up to three years. Eligible programmes cover a broad range of secondary and post-secondary (mainly vocational) programmes. Support for fees can be also provided, however, coming under different other lines of support provided by the Public Employment Service. The scheme had been implemented as an alternative to the paid educational leave scheme, as the latter had been rarely used by adults starting from a low-skilled position/aiming at an intermediate level of qualification. 100% of eligible costs can be covered. The scheme offers a lump-sum grant as a wage replacement of EUR 30.60 (2020) per day.

Level of operation

National

Name of a part of the country

Not applicable

Name of the region (for regional instruments)

Not applicable

Name of the sector (for sectoral instruments)

Not applicable

Relevance

Key instrument

Legal basis

Bundesrichtlinie des AMS, BGS/AMF/0722/9943/2013 §§ 34b Arbeitsmarktservicegesetz (AMSG), § 80 AMSG, §§ 1 Abs. 3 and 13 Arbeitsmarktpolitik-Finanzierungsgesetz (AMPFG), § 12 Abs. 5 i. V. m. § 18 Abs. 4 AIVG

Objective(s) and target(s)

To cover the specific need for skilled workers in Austrian companies through higher qualifications. By upgrading their qualifications or changing and improving their careers, the increased risk of unemployment for employees and the unemployed with qualifications below the technical college level is to be counteracted. As a result, the career opportunities and income opportunities of women can be positively influenced in the long term, both in traditional and non-traditional occupational areas, in the interests of gender equality

Year of implementation

2014

Year of latest amendment

2019

Operation/management

The grant is administered by the PES

Eligible group(s)

Unemployed, persons on leave for educational reasons and former self-employed persons who suspended their business activity without a tertiary degree.

Group(s) with preferential treatment

Education and training eligible

Secondary and post-secondary programmes in shortage occupations as defined by an annually updated list.

Source of financing and collection mechanism

PES

Financing formula and allocation mechanisms

The scheme offers a lump-sum grant as a wage replacement of EUR 30,60 per day.

Volumes of funding

EUR 5 560 000 in 2017 EUR 3 812 000 in 2018 EUR 3 679 000 in 2019

Beneficiaries/take up

5 307 in 2019, of which 59% women, 28% under 25 years, 62% between 25 and 45; 10% older than 45 years, 4 278 in 2018, 4 835 in 2017

Organisation responsible for monitoring/evaluation

Public Employment Service Austria (AMS)

Monitoring/evaluation reports available

Danzer, L., Lechner, F., Riesenfelder, A. (2020), Evaluierung des Fachkräftestipendiums, Endbericht zum Projekt; L & R Sozialforschung, Studie im Auftrag des AMS https://www.ams-forschungsnetzwerk.at/downloadpub/2020_AMS_FKS_LundR%20…

Most relevant webpage - in English