Our future lies in a diverse working world in which women have the same career opportunities in technical professions as men. As a society we have to work together to ensure that everyone is ready for a career in technology. No matter who you are or what qualifications you have. This is the only way to ensure economic stability and growth. -- Paul Köfler, Director of Aufleb Ltd
From 2022 to 2025, the Austrian Federal Ministry of Labour and Economic Affairs and the Public Employment Service are allocating EUR 10 million to train about 1 000 individuals who lack vocational qualifications to allow them to work in the environmental sector. Managed by Aufleb Ltd, the Environmental Foundation offers vocational education and training with financial aid from the Public Employment Service, aiming for at least 40 % female participation.
Women make up approximately half of Austria’s labour force, yet they are significantly under-represented in the technological and environmental sectors. In the energy sector, for instance, women account for only 19.3 % of the workforce, which is well below the international average.
Key activities of the Environmental Foundation include the following.
- Vocational training collaboration and promotion of women. The foundation is working with companies in the environmental sector that are willing to train and hire trainees. Women are a specific target group and there is an aim of a 40 % quota for women’s participation in the training activities.
- Counselling. Labour market and gender equality experts support the trainees throughout the training period. This counselling covers, for instance, promoting professional skills, questioning gender-specific divisions of labour and addressing challenges such as care responsibilities.
- Gender-sensitive teaching and learning materials. These include material on gender-sensitive language.
- Awareness raising on gender. This is achieved through using role models, engaging with women-focused projects, producing video clips challenging gender stereotypes and sensitising companies and employment counsellors to gender topics.
This initiative marks a pioneering effort within Austria, being the first foundation to set a dedicated women’s quota. It is a deliberate stride towards rectifying gender imbalances in the labour market, especially within the green sector.
The collaboration with small and medium-sized enterprises is pivotal, as it not only opens up pathways for practical vocational training but also engages the business community in a dialogue about gender equality and the untapped potential of a diverse workforce.