Mexican AI talents discover life and work in Austria

Six winners of an AI hackathon from Mexico experienced Austria firsthand. Their visit demonstrates how ABA and WKÖ are actively addressing the skills shortage in Austria through international recruitment and new partnerships in future-oriented markets such as Mexico.

The shortage of skilled workers in Austria remains high. According to the EY SME Barometer 2026EY SME Barometer 2026 (), 62 percent of companies are suffering from this labor shortage.  

Skilled Worker Shortage in Austria: Demographic Change as a Driver

Demographic change is exacerbating the situation: Only about 14 percent of the population is younger than 15 (DestatisDestatis (), as of 2024). In addition, Statistik Austria forecasts that the number of people of working age – that is, between 20 and 64 – will decline by nearly a quarter of a million by 2040.  

Immigration to Austria has also fallen significantly again following a sharp increase in 2022; in particular, fewer people are moving from other EU member states. As a result, it is becoming increasingly important to tap into new markets early on to recruit skilled workers. 

International Professionals: Mexico Has Great Potential  

Mexico is considered a promising country. The country has a particularly young population; a quarter of its residents are under 15 years of age. With over 130 million residents, more than 2,800 universities, and approximately 175,000 engineering degrees awarded in 2023 alone, Mexico also boasts a large pool of well-educated skilled workers, particularly in the fields of IT, technology, and industry.  

Dr. Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer, Federal Minister of Economy, Energy, and Tourism, sees Mexico as a future partner with dual potential: “As a source of highly qualified professionals and as a dynamic growth market for our export economy.” Angelika Sery-Froschauer, Vice President of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, echoes this view: “Especially in the IT sector, the demand for skilled workers cannot be met by the domestic labor market alone.” As Margit Kreuzhuber, Head of WORK in AUSTRIA at the ABA, emphasized to the Salzburger Nachrichten, the number of workers immigrating to Austria from Mexico has been growing by about 100 to 200 annually. This figure is expected to rise significantly through active recruitment.

Hackathons as a Recruitment Tool for International Skilled Workers  

The Austrian Business Agency (ABA) and the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKÖ) support companies in recruiting international skilled workers and, among other activities, participate in career fairs in Mexico. In late 2025, the ABA and WKÖ also organized an AI hackathon in Mexico City under the umbrella brand “Your future made in Austria.” For this event, they collaborated with ÖBB, Siemens Mobility, Plasser und Theurer, and ALPLA. The response was overwhelming: from over 500 applications, the organizers selected 113 IT talents who, within 24 hours, developed practical solutions to specific challenges faced by the participating companies.  

Hackathons are an innovative way to gain firsthand insight into the participants’ expertise. At the same time, Federal Minister Hattmannsdorfer views initiatives such as hackathons as an active part of Austria’s business location strategy.

ABA Managing Director René Tritscher also emphasizes the importance of innovative activities such as hackathons. In his view, they are important “for actively drawing the attention of international professionals to Austria as a place to work and its advantages—such as excellent career opportunities, innovative companies, outstanding infrastructure, and a superb quality of life.”  

Table Soccer in the Spotlight of the World Cup  

The six-member winning team of the AI hackathon impressed the judges with “MAIA”, an AI-based analytics platform designed to improve the quality of mobility. The prize was a one-week trip to Austria. Last week, the time had come: The team experienced the many different facets of Austria. In addition to company visits and discussions with decision-makers, the itinerary included cultural activities and stays in various regions. The group also savored famous Austrian dishes.  

One highlight, of course, was the football match with Federal Minister Hattmannsdorfer at the Federal Ministry of Economy, Energy, and Tourism (BMWET) – fittingly, exactly one day before Mexico kicked off the 2026 World Cup with its match against South Africa.  

The event at the BMWET drew widespread interest. ORF covered the meeting and interviewed not only Minister Hattmannsdorfer but also ABA Executive Director Tritscher, the Mexican ambassador, and two members of the winning team. The program aired on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. on ORF 2 as part of ZiB 1.

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