By late September 2026, the number of apprentices in company training programs fell by 4.3 percent to 95,000. Conversely, supra-company training enrollment rose by five percent to nearly 6,000, with new entrants in these programs increasing by 7.4 percent.
The Economic Chamber reports that supra-company training costs the public over 23,000 euros annually per apprentice, triple the cost of company-based training. Meanwhile, the share of 15-year-olds choosing apprenticeships dropped to 34.7 percent in 2025.
Regional disparities persist as Vienna sees 5,163 more seekers than openings, while four other provinces report a 3,800-job surplus. Small craft businesses remain vital, with 48.1 percent of all training companies currently employing exactly one apprentice.