The labor shortage does not stop at the Wiener Wurstelprater. The Prater Association announced that 13 companies have more than 80 positions to fill. To ensure that all attractions, snack stalls and bars can reopen quickly, we are now urgently looking for staff. Now there is even a job fair with ‘speed dating’.
The Prater is one of the city’s most popular leisure attractions. Roller coasters, car dreams, Ferris wheels, ghost trains, tagadas and the like delight large audiences every year – with a spectrum of entertainment devices ranging from suitable for small children to extremely adrenaline-inducing. One of the highlights of a visit to the Prater is usually a visit to one of the numerous restaurants, such as the famous Schweizerhaus.
Showman Assistants and Technicians Wanted
The list of professions with a shortage is as diverse as the supply. The Prater companies are obviously looking for people who usually work directly on the attractions, i.e. showman assistants. But women and men who have completed training as a technician, electrician, mechatronics or plumber are also in demand.
Schweizerhaus alone needs 25 new employees
The Prater restaurants also have a great need for workers. In the catering sector we are urgently looking for waitresses or people who want to take care of the numerous snack stalls. According to the Prater Association, which represents a total of about 60 members, the Schweizerhaus alone has 25 vacancies to fill in its service area.
“The labor shortage is one of the biggest challenges facing our Prater companies,” assured the association’s president Silvia Lang and vice-president Fredo Nemec in a joint statement. With too few employees, it is difficult for many to keep the business running, they warned – especially now that the start of the season is approaching. Although some attractions are also open in winter, the opening of the Schweizerhaus is considered a kind of starting signal for the entire Prater. The event will take place on March 15.
200 applicants expected for “SpeedDating”.
To be prepared for the coming months, a job fair is now being held, which is organized together with the Vienna Employment Service. The AMS has invited a total of 200 candidates for this Tuesday. Similar to ‘speed dating’, candidates take turns introducing themselves to potential employers at the event and hope for ‘matches’.
At best, job promises could be made on the spot. The Prater entrepreneurs do not hide the fact that the work can be challenging. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find workers because the leisure industry has people available to serve guests on weekends, evenings and in the summer months, Lang explains.
Interested parties just need enthusiasm for the job
She described working as a showman’s assistant as an “ideal entry-level job”. It is a semi-skilled job, all you need is enthusiasm for the work. The association boss assured that the companies would take good care of their staff. Many employees have been working in the Prater company for decades and are already part of the family.
AMS CEO Johannes Kopf was confident that the meeting event would achieve its goal: “Vacancy exchanges are an excellent tool for bringing employees and companies together in a time-efficient manner. The AMS has been using this form of mediation since the 1990s and since the pandemic it has also been available in digital form. Last year alone we were able to fill 6,527 vacancies at job fairs throughout Austria.”
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
