# Apprenticeship Numbers Fall to 95,000 in 2026

October 8, 2026 at 10:04 AM

> New data shows a 4.3 percent decline in company training programs as public costs for supra-company enrollment continue to rise.

By late September 2026, the number of [apprentices](<https://austriareport.com/entity/apprenticeship-q20773771>) 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](<https://austriareport.com/entity/austrian-economic-chamber-q248843>) 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](<https://austriareport.com/entity/vienna-q1741>) 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.


#Apprenticeships #JobMarket #VocationalTraining #EconomicChamber #LaborShortage

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