In 2016, there were already 3,573 applicants to the armed forces by November. This is an increase of 60 percent compared to the same period in 2015.
“It has always been important to me to position the Armed Forces as an attractive employer, especially in times of a tense labor market situation. The pleasing figures from the Armed Forces Personnel Office show that we have succeeded in this in the first few months. We must continue this trend. We will fill 9,800 jobs in the Army by 2020. I invite all interested Austrians to apply to the Armed Forces now,” says Defense Minister Hans Peter Doskozil, who is particularly concerned about increasing the proportion of women in the Armed Forces. From January to November 2015, 249 women applied to the Austrian Armed Forces; by November 2016, this figure had risen to 390. This increase is also evident among men: 3,138 applicants by November 2016 compared to 1,969 by November 2015. The number of those who were accepted into service with the armed forces is particularly impressive. The number has almost doubled compared to the same period in 2015, from 559 to 1,011. By November 2015, 568 soldiers, including 54 female soldiers, had been employed by the Austrian Armed Forces. From January to November 2016, there were already 861 servicemen and 96 servicewomen, i.e. a total of 957 men and women. The number of applicants to become military pilots has almost tripled: In 2015 (January to November) there were 187 applicants, in 2016 there were 528 by November. Voluntary registrations of non-commissioned officer candidates have also almost doubled: from 794 in 2015 to 1,413 by October 2016.
