Industry in Salzburg: Warning of job losses and flood of bureaucracy!

Industry in Salzburg: Warning of job losses and flood of bureaucracy!

On November 9, 2025, there will be talk of a new beginning in Salzburg, even if there are still a few stumbling blocks to overcome. Experts such as Holger Bonin, head of the IHS, and Peter Unterkofler, chairman of the WKS industrial division, are clearly warning of a prolonged recession in the industry. The two argue that despite the end of the longest economic downturn since the Second World War, the industry still faces major challenges. Welcome to a look behind the scenes of Salzburg’s economy.

The pressure on the production facilities remains high. Unterkofler emphasizes that production is shrinking in many areas and qualified jobs are being lost. These concerns are further reinforced by the warning of possible deindustrialization if the need for action is not addressed in the political agenda. With a high export intensity of 70%, Salzburg's industry is strongly integrated into global markets, but there is still uncertainty regarding economic development.

Bureaucracy as a brake

A central theme that comes up again and again in the discussions is excessive bureaucracy. According to current surveys, around 80% of entrepreneurs in Salzburg report excessive bureaucratic hurdles. This problem is not only local, but also has international dimensions. At an event in Berlin, Germany and 18 other EU states called for fundamental reforms to increase the competitiveness of industry in Europe. A new mentality of “legislative restraint” is being sought, which should have a positive impact on citizens and companies, such as Time reported.

State Governor Karoline Edtstadler also pointed out the need for action and announced measures to reduce bureaucracy and improve Salzburg as a business location. Your words could be decisive in raising motivation and consumer sentiment among the population and thus providing an impetus for economic recovery.

What the numbers say

The preliminary figures for Salzburg's industry for 2024 show sales production of 8.01 billion euros, with simultaneous research expenditure of 340 million euros. The number of industrial employees is impressive: 18,193 people, including 635 apprentices, which corresponds to 7.9% of all apprentices in Salzburg.

While some voices speak of a positive trend, the critical situation in the industry remains obvious. The promotion of qualified jobs must be at the center of the political agenda, otherwise there is a risk of further well-paid jobs being lost. The industry not only needs support, but also a positive mood to boost consumption.

In the final declaration of the latest conference in Berlin, which was attended by, among others, Federal Minister of Economics Katherina Reiche, the strategic importance of the industrial strategy for the EU is underlined. The Commission is planning, among other things, to create European lead markets in order to exploit the innovation potential and to strengthen Europe as an industrial location, as also in IHK was presented.

If we succeed in overcoming these challenges and getting the industry in Salzburg and beyond back on its feet, the coming years could well bring about a turning point. But this requires more than just good intentions – concrete measures are required!