{"id":18389,"date":"2026-05-12T13:45:09","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T11:45:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.wu.ac.at\/?p=18389"},"modified":"2026-05-12T13:27:20","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T11:27:20","slug":"a-shortage-of-skilled-workers-yet-no-opportunities-on-the-job-market","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.wu.ac.at\/en\/2026\/05\/a-shortage-of-skilled-workers-yet-no-opportunities-on-the-job-market\/","title":{"rendered":"A shortage of skilled workers, yet no opportunities on the job market?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cIt’s Time to Rethink Work\u201d was the title of the latest \u201cWU matters. WU talks.\u201d event, which brought together experts to discuss the future of work. Ursula Axmann, Director of the WU ZBP Career Center; Isabella Grabner, Professor at the Institute of Management, WU Vienna; Dr. Christine Juen, Head of Communications at AMS Austria; and Rita Niedermayr, Partner for People Consulting at EY Austria, discussed which skills matter in the workplace, how AI fits into the picture, and what a university degree can – and cannot – contribute to this.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cSkills shortages\u201d is a phrase we hear everywhere. At the same time, we\u2019re seeing a tight job market. Anyone currently in college is surely familiar with this. While everyone says companies are looking for talent, students report lengthy application processes, canceled job openings, and constant uncertainty. This was precisely the focus of the latest WU matters. WU talks.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cA master\u2019s degree is definitely a good idea […] but it\u2019s no guarantee of a successful career for life.\u201d (Ursula Axmann, WU ZBP Career Center)<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

An entry ticket, not a guarantee<\/h2>\n

All four experts agreed on one thing: A master\u2019s degree opens doors, but you have to walk through them yourself. The numbers show that, according to the AMS, the unemployment rate among college graduates remains stable at around 3%\u2014a huge difference compared to the 22% rate for those with only a high school diploma. Nevertheless, today\u2019s graduates must stand out from the crowd. Whereas a college degree used to be a unique selling point, today it is more of a basic requirement. The numbers clearly show: In the 1990s, there were around 13,500 college graduates per year in Austria; in 2022\/23, the number was nearly 60,000.<\/p>\n

Who will fill entry-level jobs? People or AI?<\/h3>\n

If AI increasingly takes over routine, analytical, and research tasks, what will be left for new graduates? A survey of companies conducted by the WU Career Center shows that 25% of companies reported that AI is already influencing their hiring practices\u2014but the vast majority cite the poor economic situation as the main reason. \u201cThis isn\u2019t just an Austrian phenomenon,\u201d says Axmann, \u201cit\u2019s happening all across Europe and even in the U.S.\u201d At the same time, Rita Niedermayr observes a clear trend: entry-level jobs are becoming more demanding. Employees must become productive much more quickly, deliver quality sooner, and navigate a steep learning curve rapidly.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe don\u2019t want copy-paste answers; we want natural, self-assured young people\u201d (Christine Juen)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What if five applicants give the exact same answer?<\/h4>\n

During a round of interviews in Christine Juen\u2019s department, five out of eight applicants gave identical, word-for-word answers to a question (obviously generated by AI). The panel concluded that only those who are able to come across as authentic and confident\u2014and demonstrate that they have thought the matter through\u2014will stand out. \u201cWe don\u2019t want copy-paste answers; we want natural, self-assured young people,\u201d said Juen.<\/p>\n

What tips can you take away from this?<\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. Lifelong Learning<\/strong>
    \nAs the name suggests, (lifelong) learning doesn\u2019t stop after graduation. Anyone who works until age 65 or 70 needs periodic periods of renewal along the way to reinvent themselves. This isn\u2019t about simply checking off compliance training courses. The     WU Executive Academy<\/a> supports you on this very journey even after graduation.<\/li>\n
  2. Taking Ownership<\/strong>
    \nHow do I position myself in the job market? How do I reinvent myself? The     ZBP Career Center<\/a> offers free counseling sessions to help you identify your unique selling proposition (USP) and shape your career entry. The WU Center of Excellence<\/a> and the WU Impact Community<\/a> show that students who take ownership in their first year are the ones leading panel discussions like this one three years later.<\/li>\n
  3. Enjoy life<\/strong>
    \nOpportunities are available even without a big budget\u2014the     WU International Office<\/a> can help. Engage.EU<\/a>, for example, offers a 14-day program with students from nine countries (with a scholarship). And for those who can\u2019t afford a semester abroad: there\u2019s EURES<\/a>, EU internships, and many other options.<\/li>\n
  4. Listen to your gut<\/strong>
    \nWU Professor Isabella Grabner offered a personal tip: plan less and listen more to your gut. Students should stop doing things just because they look good on a resume, but rather because they\u2019re a good fit for them.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \n

    Curious?<\/strong> Check out the entire discussion here:<\/h3>\n