Work Pressure in Austria on the Rise: Works Councils Raise the Alarm

Work Pressure in Austria on the Rise: Works Councils Raise the Alarm Work pressure in Austria is rising rapidly. The Strukturwandelbarometer 2026 survey shows productivity grows at employees' expense. AK and ÖGB demand action. Topics: News, Labor Market, Economy.

Work pressure in Austria has reached a new record level, according to the latest Strukturwandelbarometer 2026 — a representative survey conducted by the Austrian Chamber of Labour (AK) and the Austrian Trade Union Federation (ÖGB). Nearly 1,500 works council chairs were surveyed by the research institute IFES, representing approximately 600,000 employees across all industries. The findings are striking: productivity is rising, but at the expense of employee health and well-being. Work pressure is intensifying, the working climate is deteriorating, and sick leave rates remain high. This article covers the key results, what works councils are demanding, and what this means for employees in Austria.

Strukturwandelbarometer 2026: An Overview of the Study

The Strukturwandelbarometer (Structural Change Barometer) is commissioned annually by AK and ÖGB and is considered one of the most important barometers of workplace sentiment in Austria. For the 2026 edition, IFES surveyed 1,493 works council chairs from March to May 2026, covering companies of all sizes and sectors — from manufacturing to retail and services.

The survey examines key workplace topics: productivity, working conditions, skills shortages, digitalisation, and co-determination. As the Chamber of Labour reports, this year’s results show a particularly clear trend: employee workload has increased dramatically over the past three years.

Productivity Grows — at Employees’ Expense

73 percent of surveyed works council chairs report that productivity is a major topic in their companies. More than half say that productivity has increased over the past three years. However, the downside is alarming: this growth is often achieved not through better processes or technology, but through increased pressure on employees.

Willi Mernyi, Federal Managing Director of the ÖGB, puts it bluntly:

The increase in productivity is clearly at the expense of employees. Pressure is rising while burdens are getting bigger. Companies must finally recognise that their employees are their most important asset. Constantly increasing the pace of work endangers employees’ health.

— Willi Mernyi, Federal Managing Director, ÖGB

The most frequently cited measures for increasing productivity are process optimisation (61 percent), followed by employee involvement (59 percent), training and qualification (51 percent), and digitalisation (41 percent). However, only about one-third of companies actually implement qualification strategies.

Working Climate Deteriorates, Sick Leave Remains High

The survey documents a clear negative trend across several indicators. The working climate has worsened. Work intensity has increased. Many employees feel pressure to work during their free time or while on sick leave. Sick leave rates remain high, as reported by gesundearbeit.at.

AK Director Silvia Hruška-Frank commented: “Work is becoming increasingly intense, resulting in high numbers of sick days. At the same time, representatives of business are calling for a higher retirement age — this is completely out of touch with reality.”

This development stands in direct contradiction to the ongoing debate about a higher retirement age. If employees are expected to work longer, they need healthy working conditions and workplaces that are manageable even at an older age. Works council chairs see urgent need for action here.

Skills Shortages and Untapped Potential

Despite high work pressure, many companies continue to report skills shortages. 63 percent of works council chairs say their company has major or moderate difficulty finding the workers it needs. While this figure is lower than in previous years (73 and 85 percent respectively), it remains very high.

At the same time, many companies show little willingness to hire certain groups of people:

• 35 percent are reluctant or refuse to hire long-term unemployed people.
• 29 percent are hesitant about workers over 50.
• 22 percent show little willingness to hire people seeking part-time work.
• 17 percent exclude people with care responsibilities.

This reluctance further exacerbates the skills shortage. As PRO-GE emphasises, this represents enormous untapped potential for the Austrian labour market that companies urgently need to address.

Works Councils: Key to Better Working Conditions

The study clearly shows that where works councils are well integrated, cooperation between employees, councils, and management works better. Six out of ten respondents believe that employees should be more involved in decision-making. In practice, however, this currently happens in only one in nine companies.

Communication within companies is rated positively: the exchange between the workforce, works council, and management works well overall. However, there is a warning sign: works council involvement in corporate decisions has turned negative for the first time.

Works councils play a crucial role in managing rising work pressure. They negotiate company agreements, monitor compliance with occupational health and safety regulations, and advocate for better working conditions. According to the IFES survey, companies with works councils implement measures to reduce workload significantly more often than those without.

What AK and ÖGB Are Demanding

Based on the Strukturwandelbarometer findings, AK and ÖGB have issued clear demands:

Expand qualification programmes: A broad training and further education initiative for all employees. This is the only way to achieve sustainable productivity growth — without endangering employee health.

Healthy work until retirement: Companies need age-appropriate workplaces and a consistent focus on health as a key productivity factor. If people are expected to work longer, they must be able to do so in good health.

Strengthen co-determination: More involvement of works councils and better communication as a foundation for economic success and social stability. The study shows: co-determination benefits everyone.

As the ÖGB reports, works council chairs see qualification as the most important lever for sustainable productivity — ahead of digitalisation and process optimisation.

What This Means for Employees in Austria

The Strukturwandelbarometer 2026 results are a clear signal: work pressure in Austria has reached a critical level. Employees should be aware of their rights and, if overwhelmed, seek dialogue with their works council or the relevant trade union.

There are already legally anchored instruments — such as the assessment of psychological stress under the Employee Protection Act (ArbeitnehmerInnenschutzgesetz — ASchG). Works councils can request this assessment and thus contribute to systematic improvements in working conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Strukturwandelbarometer? The Strukturwandelbarometer is an annual survey of works council chairs in Austria, conducted by IFES on behalf of AK and ÖGB. It captures sentiment and developments in the world of work.

How many works councils were surveyed in 2026? For the 2026 edition, around 1,500 works council chairs were surveyed, representing approximately 600,000 employees.

What are the main causes of rising work pressure? Productivity is rising, but often through increased pressure rather than better processes. This is compounded by skills shortages, unfilled positions, and inadequate qualification offerings.

What is AK demanding to address rising work pressure? AK and ÖGB are calling for more qualification programmes, age-appropriate workplaces, healthy working conditions, and stronger involvement of works councils.

Productivity and Health Must Go Hand in Hand

The Strukturwandelbarometer 2026 makes one thing clear: productivity at the expense of employees is neither sustainable nor sensible. Works councils, AK, and ÖGB are calling for a rethink in the Austrian economy. Instead of constantly increasing pressure on employees, companies should invest in qualification, good work organisation, and co-determination. Only then can work pressure in Austria remain at a healthy level — and the economy remain successful in the long term. Read our article on labour market and employment trends in Austria and subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated on workplace developments in Austria.