A new study has revealed that international organisations headquartered in Austria are instrumental in supporting nearly 20,000 jobs.

Austria, particularly Vienna, is home to over 50 international bodies, including the United Nations, the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), alongside 120 embassies and diplomatic missions.

The Austrian Institute of Economic Research (WIFO), commissioned by the Foreign Ministry, conducted the study, which indicates that international organisations were responsible for creating and sustaining approximately 19,800 jobs in 2023.

This marks a 4.5% increase from a previous study conducted in 2019.

Additionally, the annual value-added impact of these organisations in Austria has risen to around €1.7 billion, representing 0.3% of the country’s GDP.

Although the study did not specify the sectors in which these jobs are found, it noted that the most significant economic impact was observed in Vienna.

Presenting the findings, WIFO’s head, Gabriel Felbermayr, highlighted that despite the tax exemptions afforded to these organisations, they still contributed around €790 million in taxes and duties to Austria.