With its PORR Campus, established in 2019, PORR pioneered a new training concept for the sector. Last year, 475 staff members from all over Austria received training here, including those in 25 apprenticeship courses. As part of a cooperation with the AMS (Austrian Public Employment Service), the campus will now be opened up to jobseekers as well.
For PORR CEO Karl-Heinz Strauss, the new offer is part of a package of measures to attract and retain workers. “The shortage of labour is one of the biggest hindrances to growth in the construction industry. One of our strategies is to build on our own employees, recruit them early, and train and develop them throughout their lives. This includes our range of courses at the PORR Campus. We are now pleased to also offer jobseekers an opportunity for those who want to get a fresh start in the construction sector”.
Range of courses facilitate career start
As part of the cooperation, PORR is currently developing training courses that will enable people to start their careers as qualified tradespeople, for example in concrete construction or civil engineering. The curriculum is set to be finalised in 2024. Training at the PORR Campus is recognised on the labour market once successfully completed.
The shortage of labour is also causing problems for PORR. The company currently has around 500 vacancies to fill in Austria alone, the majority in the trade sphere. A glance at labour market statistics shows the industry-wide need: Currently almost 9,000 jobs in trade are allocated to the construction sector.
Addressing the labour and skills shortage
Federal Minister for Labour and Economy Martin Kocher at his visit: “There are currently 8,907 vacancies in the construction industry. Offers such as the PORR training campus therefore not only provide important opportunities for participants, they also help to counteract the labour shortage in the industry. As part of the various training and development courses, participants are given the opportunity to expand their skills. This additional qualification opens up new doors for them and at the same time the companies and Austria as a whole benefit from well-trained personnel”.
AMS Board member Herbert Buchinger explains: “The training and further education of existing employees and the training of apprentices are two essential strategies for alleviating the shortage of skilled workers in the future. PORR is investing in training and further education and will now also be offering specialist qualifications for jobseekers on behalf of the AMS via the PORR Campus. Further offers will be added in the future. I congratulate PORR on its innovative concept and look forward to further cooperation to meet the challenges of the shortage of skilled workers”.
About the PORR Campus
Th PORR Campus, opened in 2019, provides the fourth training pillar alongside the construction academy, vocational school, and the construction site itself. Here apprentices, skilled workers and employees can engage in a wide range of training with a 550m2 training hall, 1,100m2 of open space and a dormitory with 55 beds. In addition to basic training and apprenticeship courses, a range of further education and skills training is offered such as courses for foremen.
