Austria’s gastronomy and tourism sectors are largely supported by employees with a migration background. Nearly half of all workers in the industry are either immigrants themselves or children of immigrants, according to a study by the Dema Institute led by social researcher Günther Ogris. During the presentation of the findings in Vienna, he, along with restaurateur Andreas Fuith, warned against restrictive immigration policies.
“A strict immigration policy is an attack on the economy, especially the gastronomy and hospitality sectors,” said Ogris on Thursday. Fuith added that gastronomy has always been shaped by internationalism and “has always been an open, curious industry.” He also noted that a diverse workforce makes it easier to schedule shifts around religious holidays.
Two-Thirds of Restaurateurs Have a Migration Background
According to the study, urban areas are particularly reliant on foreign workers in the hospitality sector. In Vienna, Graz, and Linz, around 73 percent of industry employees have a migration background. In the tourism-heavy federal states of Tyrol (38 percent) and Salzburg (44 percent), Ogris believes the actual numbers are even higher, as seasonal workers are not captured in the microcensus data used.
In Vienna, 35 percent of those working in the sector hold Austrian citizenship—including 8 percent who were naturalized. Just over 20 percent come from other EU countries. Slightly fewer come from Asia (including Afghanistan and Syria), 9 percent from non-EU Balkan countries, and 5 percent from Turkey. The high proportion of people with a migration background applies not only to employees: two-thirds of the restaurant owners in Vienna also have a history of immigration, Ogris noted.
