14 January 2026 ÖBB apprenticeship package for 300 additional apprentices presented  Training workshops in Vienna, Graz, St. Pölten, and Linz are being expanded – an additional 100 training places each in 2025, 2026, and 2027

In September 2025, ÖBB celebrated a new record: 760 new apprentices, 25 percent of whom were female, began their apprenticeships with the federal railways. That was 100 more than originally planned and than had been usual in previous years. Roman Hebenstreit, Chairman of the Group Works Council, presented the figures.

This is made possible by a specially tailored ÖBB apprentice package for the years 2025, 2026, and 2027, which was presented today at the ÖBB training workshop in St. Pölten by Infrastructure Minister Peter Hanke and Labor Minister Korinna Schumann, as well as ÖBB CEO Andreas Matthä and ÖBB Group Works Council Chairman Roman Hebenstreit. The reason for this increase is the ongoing demand for skilled workers due to the generational change that ÖBB is currently undergoing.

Minister of Mobility Peter Hanke: "With the apprenticeship package, we are investing around five million euros in the future of mobility together with ÖBB. By 2027, we will create 300 additional apprenticeships, thereby securing skilled workers for the mobility transition. By expanding and modernizing the training workshops in four federal states, we are ensuring the best possible training conditions. The funds will directly benefit the apprentices, trainers, and infrastructure. Especially in times of consolidation, this is a clear commitment to strong apprenticeship training and a clear declaration of war on the shortage of skilled workers in a key industry in Austria."

Minister of Labor Korinna Schumann: "Apprenticeships are an Austrian success story and a key factor in combating the shortage of skilled workers. Companies that train apprentices promote the skills they need today and in the future. Apprenticeships give young people a successful start to their professional future. The apprenticeship package from the Ministry of Mobility is an important contribution to the labor market and ensures that the skilled workers of tomorrow are trained." 

Additional 5 million Euro for ÖBB apprentice training

The apprentice package presented today includes an additional €5 million provided by the Ministry of Mobility. This money has been and will continue to be used to expand and adapt the ÖBB training workshops in Vienna, Graz, St. Pölten, and Linz. These funds will also be used to cover apprentice salaries, work and learning materials, work clothing, protective equipment for the additional apprentices, and expenses for additional apprentice trainers (salaries, work equipment, work clothing). On this basis, ÖBB will be able to take on 100 more apprentices than originally planned in each of the years 2025, 2026, and 2027.

In total, ÖBB will thus have around 300 additional, urgently needed skilled workers at its disposal in a few years' time, who will help shape the railways of tomorrow. ÖBB currently has around 2,300 young people in training across the group. This makes ÖBB one of the largest apprentice trainers in Austria and the clear number one in technical training. 

"I am proud that ÖBB is a very popular training company. We offer young people not only top-quality training, but also the stability of a large, modern employer, a fair salary, and excellent future prospects. I am delighted that, thanks to the federal government's apprenticeship package, we can now give another 100 young people the chance to become part of the ÖBB family," says ÖBB CEO Andreas Matthä. 

Those who do not train apprentices today will have no skilled workers tomorrow

ÖBB is currently undergoing a generational change and, like many other companies, is faced with a continuing demand for skilled workers. That is why 4,100 new employees are sought each year—especially in railway-specific and technical professions. 

"Austria has no natural resources – our most important raw material is people. Skilled workers don't just fall from the sky; they have to be trained by companies that take responsibility for the next generation and consistently invest in apprenticeships, trainers, and infrastructure. ÖBB has been following this path for years – and is demonstrating that training creates future prospects while also ensuring economic success. Other companies should follow this example," says Roman Hebenstreit, Chairman of the Group Works Council.