ÖBB Invests in Apprentices: 300 New Rail Jobs & €5M Boost

Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) is launching a major expansion of its apprenticeship program, adding 300 new training positions between 2025 and 2027 to combat a critical shortage of skilled personnel. This strategic investment, backed by a €5 million government fund, places ÖBB at the forefront of a global trend where key industries are reviving vocational training to secure a future-proof workforce amid significant generational shifts.

The formal announcement was made at the ÖBB training workshop in St. Pölten, where company management and government officials detailed the special package. The plan will see an annual increase of 100 apprenticeship places above previously scheduled levels for three consecutive years. This expansion builds on recent success; in September 2025, ÖBB welcomed a record 760 new apprentices, already 100 more than initially planned. Emphasizing the strategic importance of this pipeline, company management stated, “If you don’t train apprentices today, you won’t have specialists tomorrow,” highlighting vocational training as essential for the continuity of railway operations.

The additional €5 million in funding from the Ministry of Transport is earmarked for a comprehensive overhaul of the training infrastructure. These funds will directly support the expansion and modernization of ÖBB’s primary training workshops in Vienna, Graz, St. Pölten, and Linz. The investment covers increasing workshop capacity, enhancing apprentice remuneration, acquiring modern work and training equipment, and hiring additional trainers. A key focus of the program is to bolster technical and specialized rail professions, with ÖBB noting that approximately 25% of new apprentices are women, a significant step towards diversifying its technical workforce.

ÖBB’s initiative is a direct response to a major generational change within the company but also reflects a wider global strategy for workforce development. As industries worldwide face demographic cliffs and skills gaps, expanding apprenticeship pathways has become a proven solution. Similar models are being deployed in sectors from healthcare in the United States to advanced manufacturing in Wisconsin, where organizations are investing heavily in hands-on training to build a skilled and resilient workforce. For ÖBB, this internal training is a critical tool to maintain operational capacity and support ambitious investment programs in both infrastructure and next-generation rolling stock.

Key Takeaways

• Direct Investment in Talent: ÖBB will create 300 extra apprenticeship spots from 2025-2027, backed by a €5 million government fund, to tackle a projected annual hiring need of 4,100 employees.
• Infrastructure Modernization: The program includes significant upgrades to training workshops in four key Austrian cities, ensuring apprentices learn with state-of-the-art equipment.
• Long-Term Strategic Vision: By becoming one of Austria’s largest apprenticeship providers, ÖBB is building a sustainable talent pipeline to ensure the long-term success of the nation’s transition to sustainable mobility.

Editor’s Analysis

ÖBB’s move to significantly expand its apprenticeship program is more than a simple recruitment drive; it is a strategic masterstroke in an industry facing a demographic time bomb. While many operators focus on short-term hiring, ÖBB is investing in the long-term cultivation of institutional knowledge. In an era of rapid digitalization, automation, and decarbonization, the technical skills required to operate a modern railway are increasingly complex. By building a robust in-house training pipeline, ÖBB not only secures the numbers it needs but also ensures its future workforce is fluent in the specific technologies and operational standards of its network. This initiative serves as a powerful blueprint for other national rail operators globally, demonstrating that proactive investment in vocational training is the most effective defense against skills shortages and the key to maintaining a competitive edge.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is ÖBB expanding its apprenticeship program?
ÖBB is expanding the program to address a severe shortage of skilled personnel caused by a major generational change within the company and overall growth in the rail sector. The company needs to recruit approximately 4,100 new employees annually.

How many new apprentices will ÖBB train through this initiative?
The special package will create 300 additional apprenticeship places between 2025 and 2027, representing an increase of 100 places per year compared to the initial plan.

What is the government’s role in this initiative?
The Austrian Ministry of Transport is providing additional funding of around €5 million to support the program. These funds will be used to increase workshop capacity, improve apprentice pay, purchase modern equipment, and hire more trainers.