U.S. Labor Secretary Walsh visits Austria for Insight into Austrian Apprenticeship Model

Meeting at the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber in Vienna © IV / Matanovic

In April 2022, the U.S. and Austria signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand Registered Apprenticeships in both countries. The apprenticeship cooperation – initiated by the Embassy of Austria - moved another step forward towards implementation last week as U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh landed in Austria. On 18 January 2023, the US-Austria Joint Working Group on Apprenticeships held its first in-person meeting at the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber in Vienna. The discussion focused primarily on technical cooperation in standardization and apprenticeship profiles and the establishment of an exchange program for apprentices. It was followed up by a meeting at the Vocational Training Institute (BFI) as well as a visit to the Apollogasse vocational school. Then, on January 19, U.S. Secretary Walsh visited the voestalpine steel industry company's training center for apprentices in Linz to learn firsthand about the Austrian apprenticeship model. Sec. Walsh was accompanied by State Secretary of Labor and Economy Susanne Kraus-Winkler as well as the Austrian Ambassador to the U.S.-designate Petra Schneebauer.

Walsh visits voestalpine © BMAW / Holey

Walsh also participated in a roundtable discussion with the Federation of Austrian Industries and held a separate meeting with Trade Union Federation President Wolfgang Katzian and Labor Chamber President Renate Anderl, stressing the importance of apprenticeships for the workforce development in both economies: “Expanding Registered Apprenticeships is crucial to creating high quality jobs in new and emerging industries. Building upon the U.S. and Austria MOU signing from last April to expand Registered Apprenticeship programs in both countries supports our commitment to build equitable pathways to the middle class.”

Walsh visits voestalpine © BMAW / Holey