A new survey has revealed that nearly 90% of people in Austria report being “rather” or “very” satisfied with their jobs, and three-quarters say they have a good or very good work-life balance.
The survey, conducted by TQS Research Consulting with 1,000 respondents, also found that more than half of those in the working-age bracket (16 to 65) are employed full-time, with a further 17% working part-time.
Nearly one in five part-time workers say this is their “personal preference,” with no external factors such as caregiving, illness or lack of job opportunities influencing their decision.
Work-Life Balance
“I was very surprised that so many people have already achieved work-life balance,” says Dieter Scharitzer, Managing Director of TQS Research Consulting and Assistant Professor at the Institute for Marketing Management at the Vienna University of Economics and Business.
Financially, the survey shows that half of respondents are doing well or very well, while 14% reported struggling significantly to make ends meet. These figures have remained unchanged compared to the same survey a year ago.
Demand for Home Office
While remote work became popular during the COVID-19 pandemic, only 25% of people in Austria now work from home at least two days a week. The survey found that 60% of respondents said their employers do not allow remote work. However, only 40% believe they must be physically present at the office at all times. Despite this, the majority would prefer more opportunities for home working, with only 11% saying they do not wish to work remotely.
This suggests that one in five people are being required to be physically present by their employers, even though they don’t see the need to be.
Personal Optimism, Societal Concerns
The survey also found that people in Austria are generally optimistic about their personal futures. Seven out of ten respondents rated their future prospects positively – up from five out of ten two years ago. Despite this, only one in five looks ahead pessimistically, with inflation and war being the most common concerns.
However, social cohesion in Austria tells a different story, with just 35% of people viewing it positively – half the number of those optimistic about their own futures. Additionally, 70% of respondents said they felt negatively about the media landscape, with half expressing a lack of trust in the media. Almost 80% of people believe politicians are not making the right decisions.
