Vienna’s Jobmesse Austria draws 80 employers in push for skilled talent mobility

The fifth edition of Jobmesse Austria opened its doors at Vienna’s Marx Halle this morning, bringing together 80 organisations—from the Austrian Armed Forces to state rail operator ÖBB and multiple tech start-ups—to court job-seekers in a tight labour market. The two-day fair runs 26–27 September and expects record footfall after national unemployment ticked up across all age groups. Exhibitors are using the event to fast-track hiring for roles that are chronically hard to fill, including IT security analysts, rolling-stock engineers and geriatric nurses. Several companies have on-site assessment centres that allow candidates to walk away with conditional job offers, bypassing the usual multi-stage process. The fair also hosts seminars on visa sponsorship and international career paths. ÖBB’s mobility unit, for example, is briefing visitors on its “RailTech Graduate” scheme, which offers a 24-month rotation in Vienna, Munich and Zürich under the EU’s Blue Card framework. Consulting giant PwC is running clinics on the Red-White-Red Card for highly-qualified third-country nationals. From an employer-branding perspective, the event is an inexpensive way to meet potential hires after many pandemic-era career fairs moved online. HR directors say face-to-face contact reduces attrition in the onboarding phase, especially for cross-border hires who must navigate housing and residence permits. Attendees can have CVs reviewed, sit for professional headshots and receive coaching on transitioning sectors—a service aimed at mid-career professionals seeking to pivot into Austria’s growing green-tech economy.