Österreich: Aufnahmeland wider Willen und ohne Strategie?

Economic theory assesses migration as positive for the country of origin as well as that of destination. Heterogeneity increases productivity, product diversity, and even company management and health. Challenges to these overall positive outcomes might arise in case of disruptive migration driven by wars, conflict and, most recently, climate catastrophes. Austria is a European country with high, according to some indicators even highest migration inflows, although the country has never had a coherent, national immigration strategy, not even for highly qualified migrants (e.g. via a blue card system). Nevertheless, migration to Austria has been highly beneficial, prevented a strong decline in population, and turned Vienna from an ageing city with a declining job market and a stalled cultural life to one of the urban centers with the highest quality of life worldwide. GDP per capita in Austria – starting from a below middle position – is now among the highest in Europe. In comparison to their countries of origin, the human capital and professional qualifications of immigrants is above average, but may still not be adequate for the actual labor market demand in Austria. Social and educational mobility of migrants as well as structural integration in the labor market and the educational system remain key challenges in Austria, as second generation migrants still differ from the endogenous population in terms of labor market outcomes, income and educational attainment.
In this paper, we analyze forced and voluntary migration movements to Austria, starting with the end of the Second World War up to the latest EU-enlargement. We include recommendations on how the positive impact of immigration to Austria could be increased and how integration and inclusion successes can be accelerated, and propose a model of circular migration, which would be beneficial for countries of origins as well as for European partnership strategies.