The EU will invest EUR 393 million in ESF+ funding in Austria to promote education, training, jobs, social inclusion and increase participation in the labour market.  

Austria will focus on gender equality and equal opportunities in education and employment, supporting women's and single parents' access to the labour market. In education, support for the transition from school to work will be expanded – with increased opportunities for vocational education and training. Funds will also support investments in jobs and education for persons with disabilities, people with migrant backgrounds and other disadvantaged groups. Based on best practices from the 2014-2020 period, a strong focus is set on active inclusion.   

ESF+ Austria will also heavily support social innovation by promoting knowledge sharing and creating networks, participatory processes and experimentation spaces to promote positive change, and offer solutions to social challenges.  

Investments by the ESF+ will enable Austria to achieve its 2030 social targets under the European Pillar of Social Rights  by raising the employment rate to 79.9%, adult participation in education and training to 62% and by reducing the number of people at risk of poverty and social exclusion by nearly 204 000.  

The ESF+ in Austria is implemented through two national programmes – the Employment Programme – which includes funding from the Just Transition Fund (JTF) – as well as the national ESF+ programme for fighting material deprivation.