Austria Shortage Occupation List: Jobs Open to Non-EU Workers
The labour minister renews the Austria shortage occupation list every year, and the 2026 national version includes roofers, pavers, concrete construction workers, nursing assistants and restaurant chefs. Being on the list does not give you a visa by itself. Your job title, qualification and employer must still match the official entry.
Last checked 8 November 2026. This article is part of our guide: Austria work visa guide.
What the Austria shortage occupation list does for your application
The list tells you which jobs the government sees as short of workers. It is not a permit. For the wider picture of how permits work, read Austria work visa routes and the points system first, then come back here for job-level detail.
The shortage route only works for listed jobs. The official FAQ page says that if a profession is not on the current list, the authorities cannot issue the Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations card for it. Other card types may still apply, so the list is one route, not the whole system.
Listing does not end the checks. After the application goes forward, the Public Employment Service (AMS) reviews your points, your training in the shortage occupation and whether the pay is adequate, as set out on the official route page. For most professions you do not need formal recognition, because the authorities assess your qualification from the documents you submit.
In practice, your listed job is the start, not the finish. You still need documents that prove your qualification, and you still need an employer who can confirm the job in writing.
Austria shortage occupation list jobs: trades, technical and care roles
The jobs below appear on the official pages for the 2026 national list or a regional list. Read each entry against your own job title and duties, because the list names specific qualifications, not broad job types.
Roofers and pavers on the Austria shortage occupation list
Roofers (DachdeckerInnen) are entry 9 on the 2026 national list, and pavers (Pflasterer/Pflasterinnen) are entry 43. Both apply across Austria. The list gives no pay figure, so take pay details from your written job offer, not from a forum post.
The catch with roofing is the qualification. Your roofing training must match the listed occupation, and the national list page gives the exact wording. The official worked example for a roofer awards 5 points for German, but other applicants may receive different point values.
Electricians on the Austria shortage occupation list
Electricians are not confirmed. The 2026 pages reviewed do not show electricians. Older copies of lists circulate online, but an outdated list cannot tell you what applies today.
Do not plan your move around electricians until you see your exact title on the German version of the national list or on the regional list for the province where you will work.
Welders: check the current entry first
The 2026 pages reviewed do not show welders. A job that sounds like welding may not match the entry name, so compare the title and duties carefully.
Look up the current national and regional lists before you pay for any documents. Your welding certificates and work history are the papers you send, so they must show the match.
Nursing assistants on the Austria shortage occupation list
Nursing assistants appear on the 2026 national list at two levels. Entry 53 covers the level 2 qualification (PflegefachassistentIn, PFA), and entry 54 covers the level 1 qualification (PflegeassistentIn, PA). Each entry applies only to the level it names.
The catch is the level. A level 1 certificate does not match the level 2 entry, so check your certificate against the exact wording on the national list before you apply.
Care workers and registered nurses
The pages reviewed do not show registered nurses (Gesundheits- und Krankenpflege), so do not claim they are listed. They also do not show general care worker titles as separate entries.
If you hold a nursing assistant qualification, match it to entry 53 or 54 rather than to a general care job title. Use that entry name in your documents, because the match is made against it.
Restaurant chefs and regional trades
Restaurant chefs (Gaststättenköche/Gaststättenköchinnen) are on the 2026 national list under entry 47, with several named job variants. Match your job to one of those variants, not just to the word chef.
Some trades count only in certain provinces. Glaziers are a shortage occupation in Kärnten, Oberösterreich and Tirol, but not across Austria. Physicians also appear on the national list, though the extract I reviewed does not give the version year. The regional shortage occupations page shows which province applies to each entry, such as dentists in Upper Austria.
Technicians and other roles
No technician entry was verified for this article, so I cannot give a yes or no. Search the current list by your exact job title and the qualification you hold, not by a broad word like technician.
How often the Austria shortage occupation list changes
The labour minister issues a regulation each year, and that regulation sets the list. The FAQ also says whether a profession counts as a shortage occupation depends on conditions in the Austrian labour market. So last year’s entry may have gone, or its wording may have changed. The official FAQ covers both points.
Check the version label on the page each time you prepare an application. The 2026 list is the version reviewed here, but the text I checked gave no publication date. Treat this article as a guide, not as the official source.
Use this routine when you check whether a job was added or removed:
- Open the current national list and search by your exact job title.
- If it is not there, check the regional list for the province where you will work.
- Compare the result with the copy you saved last time, and note any change.
- Ask your employer to confirm the entry in writing if you are unsure.
Keep that record with your documents, so you can show which version you relied on.
Comparison of shortage trades, technical and care roles
The table compares seven entries on the proof you need, the German position, where pay comes from, how to check the entry, and the main catch. Use it as a checklist, not a verdict.
| Role | Qualification proof | German or English expectation | Pay source | Official check | Main catch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers | Roofing qualification matching entry 9 | Not stated in the official text reviewed; German counts towards points | Written job offer | Entry 9, 2026 national list | Qualification must match the listed occupation |
| Pavers | Paving qualification matching entry 43 | Not stated; German counts towards points | Written job offer | Entry 43, 2026 national list | Your title must match the entry, not similar work |
| Concrete construction workers | Concrete qualification matching entry 44 | Not stated in the English pages; check the German list | Written job offer | Entry 44, German 2026 list | Read the German wording closely |
| Nursing assistants level 2 | PFA qualification named in entry 53 | Not stated; care work often needs German daily | Written job offer | Entry 53, 2026 national list | A level 1 certificate does not count |
| Nursing assistants level 1 | PA qualification named in entry 54 | Not stated; as above | Written job offer | Entry 54, 2026 national list | The level 2 entry is a different qualification |
| Restaurant chefs | Qualification fitting a named variant in entry 47 | Not stated; German counts towards points | Written job offer | Entry 47, 2026 national list | The job must fit one of the named variants |
| Glaziers | Glazing qualification | Not stated | Written job offer | Regional list for Kärnten, Oberösterreich and Tirol | Only valid for jobs in those three provinces |
The pay column contains no figure. None of the official pages reviewed gives an amount for these roles, so your written job offer is the only reliable pay source. If an agent quotes a figure, ask where it comes from.
Where to check the official Austria shortage occupation list
Use migration.gv.at as your main source for the Austria shortage occupation list. The national list and the regional list sit on separate pages, in English and German, so check both. Read the page itself rather than a copied summary, because summaries often fall behind the official text.
Match your job to the entry by duties, not just by title. A job called roofer may include tasks outside the qualification named in the entry. If your employer uses a different title, ask them to explain the match in writing. The national list page and the regional shortage occupations page give the entry numbers you need.
- Note the entry number and the occupation name in English and German.
- Check whether the entry is Austria-wide or limited to certain provinces.
- Confirm that the qualification named in the entry matches your certificate.
- Save a dated copy with the web address beside it.
German requirements for shortage jobs in Austria
A listed job does not remove the German requirement by itself. None of the official pages reviewed says a shortage entry skips German. The worked example for a roofer gives 5 points for German skills, so German still counts towards the points total on this route.
The text I checked does not confirm the German level for the shortage route, whether A1 or B1. Do not assume a level. Ask the Austrian representation abroad, or check the official route page, before you plan your German study.
A family member applying for the first time must prove German at A1 level, according to the official Red-White-Red Card plus guidance. That rule covers family members, not the worker, but it shows the level Austria sets for family applications.
In nursing and care work, you often need German from day one, because you speak with patients and colleagues. That is my reading of how these roles work, not an official rule, so ask your employer what level they expect.
Matching a job offer to the listed occupation
A job on the Austria shortage occupation list still needs a matching offer. The Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations page says a prospective employer can file the application with the residence authority in Austria, so the employer plays a formal role. Treat the offer as central, and confirm its details in writing.
The shortage-occupation card is issued for 24 months under the conditions on that page. Check those conditions before you sign a contract, so the job length and the card period fit together.
Your job offer must match the listed occupation in title and duties. A vague offer such as site worker does not show a match to entry 9 or 43. The Public Employment Service (AMS) checks whether the pay is adequate, so a low offer can cause problems later.
Ask for these details in writing before you apply:
- The exact job title, and how it matches the entry name.
- The main duties, written in plain words.
- The work location, because regional entries apply only in named provinces.
- The gross pay offered and the pay basis, such as hourly or monthly.
Your qualification must also match the entry. If the job falls outside your qualification, the entry may not apply, even when the title looks close.
Verify employers and agents before you pay anyone
Check the employer and any agent before you pay for anything. A genuine employer will not ask you to pay for a guaranteed job. The OeAD guidance says the Red-White-Red Card application fee is not refunded if the application is refused or withdrawn, so a payment made in error may be lost.
Red flags to watch for
Scammers often reuse the same tricks, so look for these warning signs.
- Fees for a guaranteed job or a guaranteed visa.
- Pressure to sign or pay within a day.
- Requests for your original passport or personal documents through chat apps or private email.
- A job offer that does not name the employer, the location or the pay basis.
- Claims that a job is on the list, without an entry number or an official link.
Confirm each step with official sources
Check the job against the list on migration.gv.at. Then confirm the filing route with the Austrian representation abroad, because applicants can file through an embassy or consulate.
If an agent says your job is on the list, ask for the entry number and check it yourself. A legitimate agent should answer that question without fuss.
Next steps for checking your job on the list
- Open the national shortage list on migration.gv.at and search your exact job title and qualification.
- If your job is not there, check the regional shortage occupations page for the province where you will work.
- Gather the certificates that prove the qualification named in the entry.
- Get your job offer in writing, with title, duties, location and pay basis, then verify the employer using the checks above.
- Read the Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations page and the FAQ, then save dated copies of what you read.
Frequently asked questions
Which jobs are on the Austria shortage occupation list?
The 2026 national list on the official migration.gv.at page includes roofers, pavers, concrete construction workers, nursing assistants at levels 1 and 2, and restaurant chefs. Physicians also appear on the national list, though the version year was not shown in the text used for this article. Glaziers are listed only as a regional occupation in Kärnten, Oberösterreich and Tirol. Check the current entry before you rely on any of these.
Is the shortage list the same every year?
No. The official FAQ says the labour minister issues a regulation each year that sets the list. Whether a profession counts as a shortage occupation also depends on conditions in the Austrian labour market. An entry you read last year may have been removed or changed, so check the version on the official page on the day you prepare your application.
Do I need a job offer if my job is on the list?
The official text used for this article does not say a job offer is required for the shortage route, so do not assume either way. It does say a prospective employer can file the application with the residence authority in Austria, so the employer plays a formal role. Ask your employer for written confirmation of your job title, duties and pay, and check the Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations page before you accept any offer.
Are electricians and welders on the shortage list for Austria?
Not confirmed. The 2026 pages reviewed do not show electricians or welders. Older copies of lists circulate online, but an outdated list cannot tell you what applies today. Check the current national list, and any regional list for the province where you would work. If your exact title does not appear, the shortage route does not cover that job.
Are nurses and care workers on the shortage list?
Nursing assistants are. The 2026 national list includes nursing assistants at level 2 (PflegefachassistentIn, PFA) and level 1 (PflegeassistentIn, PA), and each entry applies only to the level it names. Registered nurses did not appear in the text reviewed, so do not claim they are listed. General care worker titles did not appear as separate entries either, so match your qualification to the exact entry name.
Does a shortage job mean I can skip German?
No exemption is confirmed in the text used for this article. The official worked example for a roofer awards 5 points for German within the points total, so German still counts. The German level for the shortage route, A1 or B1, was not confirmed either. Ask the Austrian representation abroad or check the official route page before you assume anything. Care roles often need German in daily work.
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