Experts anticipate minimal impact on Austria’s labour market as it remains unclear whether, when and how many refugees who fled Syria will return following the collapse of the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Nearly 24,000 people of Syrian origin are currently employed in Austria. Including asylum seekers, who are not permitted to work in non-self-employed positions, the total number of Syrians in Austria approaches 100,000.

Earlier this week, Austria, along with several other European countries, announced that it was pausing Syrian asylum applications.

Johannes Kopf, head of the Public Employment Service (AMS), stated that the assumption many Syrians would return quickly is “incorrect.” He emphasised that those who have settled in Austria, learned the language and established new lives are unlikely to leave anytime soon.

“The idea of a large-scale return of refugees is unrealistic,” Kopf said. “Especially people who are building a new life, learning the language, and taking on a job are unlikely to return quickly.”

Sectors Where Syrians Are Employed

The majority of Syrian nationals in Austria work in various service sectors. Of the roughly 24,000 Syrians employed, most are in the automotive trade and repair (3,706), hospitality and catering (3,645), and other economic services (3,612). Manufacturing follows closely with 3,119 employed, while sectors such as transportation and storage (2,321), construction (1,571), healthcare and social services (1,518), and other services (1,170) also employ significant numbers.

For context, Austria’s total workforce stands at 3.977 million, with Syrians making up just 0.6 percent of that figure. At the end of November, around 384,000 people were registered as unemployed or in training with the AMS.