Difficult times – Future monitor: this is how we approach Austria

What are Mr. and Mrs. Austrians thinking in secret? Where does the shoe pinch? And what are the country’s regulars hotly debating about? Questions that the trade association asked itself. To this end, she had 1,202 Austrians interviewed about various topics through the Institute for Empirical Social Research. The results have been collected in the Future Monitor 2024.

Only one in four is confident in job security
What emerged from it is partly little, but then again very surprising. For example (see graph) that almost one in five people can imagine a ‘strong hand’ instead of parliament and elections. Or that in the difficult labor market situation, only 26 percent have positive expectations regarding their job security.

The fact that Austrians are unfamiliar with migration is in itself nothing new. The fact that 62 percent appear to be in favor of rapid integration of migrants into the labor market is quite unexpected. And 63 percent want simplifications for key and top employees from abroad. But less than a third like the cultural and religious diversity that immigration inevitably brings.

Only eleven percent have confidence in domestic parties
The majority, 56.3 percent, went to the EU elections. But: Only a quarter confirm that they have a lot of confidence in the Union. In any case, it is better than trusting the domestic parties; only eleven percent have that. And the financial aspect? Only slightly less than half are satisfied with their own financial situation. Only 18 percent think that everyone in Austria has the same opportunities, while 57 percent think social differences are unfair.

The most important issues for those interviewed are: treating each other with respect, personal freedom and personal responsibility. Wishes that are also a loud voice for the future government…