Funding Arrangements in Austria

The training companies and public authorities finance the Austrian apprenticeship training system. The training companies bear the costs of company-based training, which is the main part of the overall costs, while the cost of school-based education (part-time vocational school) is financed by public funds.

School maintenance and teachers’ salaries are provided by the provinces. The Federal Government refunds 50% of the costs for the teaching staff. The apprenticeship remuneration, which is paid by the training companies, constitutes a major part of the costs for apprenticeship training. The remuneration increases as the apprentice progresses towards a qualification. In the final year, it is approximately 80% of the corresponding skilled worker’s wage. The IVET trainers within the company are also paid by the company providing training, as is the training equipment. Therefore, from the perspective of public funding, apprenticeship training has proved to be the least expensive form of VET in Austria.

Supra-company training (Überbetriebliche Beraufausbildung, ÜBA), which is offered to young people who are unable to find a company-based apprenticeship post, is entirely funded by the Public Employment Service in Austria (Arbeitsmarktservice, AMS). Within ÜBA, young people can complete an apprenticeship in a training workshop.