While €52.7 billion in annual turnover showcases Austria's construction industry as a powerhouse of growth, a closer look at the sector reveals a dynamic landscape shaped by surging infrastructure investment, resilient housing demand, and a transformative push toward sustainability.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, the Austrian construction industry's total turnover amounted to €52.7 billion, reflecting a 3.8% year-over-year growth driven by residential and infrastructure projects
- The construction sector contributed 5.4% to Austria's GDP in 2022, up from 5.1% in 2021 due to post-pandemic recovery
- Austria's construction market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 2.9% from 2024 to 2028, reaching €58.2 billion by 2028
- Construction employment in Austria totaled 285,000 full-time equivalents in 2023, a 2.3% increase from 2022
- The construction sector employed 7.2% of Austria's total workforce in 2022, with 312,400 persons
- Average hourly labor cost in Austrian construction was €32.50 in 2023, up 4.1% from 2022
- Number of building permits issued in Austria reached 45,200 in 2023, a 5.6% increase from 2022
- Residential building permits in Austria totaled 32,100 units in 2023, valued at €12.8 billion
- Vienna issued 8,450 building permits for new dwellings in 2023, up 7.2% YoY
- Construction material costs in Austria rose 7.8% in 2023, with steel prices up 12.4%
- Average cost per square meter for new residential builds in Austria was €2,850 in 2023
- Wage costs in construction increased by 4.5% in Austria in 2023 to €42,100 annually per worker
- Share of green buildings in new Austrian projects reached 45% in 2023, certified under Klimaaktiv standards
- CO2 emissions from construction activities in Austria fell 12% in 2022 to 4.2 million tons
- 68% of Austrian construction firms adopted BIM (Building Information Modeling) by 2023
Austria's construction industry grew significantly in 2023, driven by residential and infrastructure projects.
Building Permits & Projects
1Number of building permits issued in Austria reached 45,200 in 2023, a 5.6% increase from 2022
Verified2Residential building permits in Austria totaled 32,100 units in 2023, valued at €12.8 billion
Verified3Vienna issued 8,450 building permits for new dwellings in 2023, up 7.2% YoY
Verified4Infrastructure project pipeline in Austria included 1,200 km of new roads planned for 2024-2030
Directional515,300 non-residential building permits were granted in Austria in 2022, focusing on logistics
Single source6Completion of 28,500 new housing units in Austria in 2023, exceeding permits by 4%
Verified7Tyrol region saw 3,200 building permits for tourism infrastructure in 2023
Verified8Energy-efficient building projects approved: 12,400 in Austria in 2023 under BAFA standards
Verified9Public procurement tenders for construction exceeded 2,500 in Austria in 2023, valued at €8.2 billion
Directional10Upper Austria approved 6,100 industrial building permits in 2023
Single source11Styria building permits: 4,800 in 2023, focused on industrial parks
Verified12Salzburg residential completions: 2,900 units in 2023
Verified13Rail infrastructure permits: 450 projects approved in 2023
Verified14Office building permits declined 9% to 1,200 in Austria 2023
Directional15Hospital construction projects: 18 nationwide in Austria 2023
Single source16Carinthia tourism lodge permits: 850 in 2023
Verified17Asphalt production for projects: 7.2 million tons permitted in 2023
Verified18Burgenland wind farm foundations: 120 permits in 2023
VerifiedBuilding Permits & Projects Interpretation
Austria’s construction sector is clearly laying the foundations for the future, though with a traffic jam of housing permits in Vienna, an industrial boom in Upper Austria, a tourist rush in the Alps, and a surprising shortage of new offices, it seems the country is building everything except a dull moment.
Costs & Prices
1Construction material costs in Austria rose 7.8% in 2023, with steel prices up 12.4%
Verified2Average cost per square meter for new residential builds in Austria was €2,850 in 2023
Verified3Wage costs in construction increased by 4.5% in Austria in 2023 to €42,100 annually per worker
Verified4Energy costs for construction firms in Austria surged 22% in 2022 due to Ukraine crisis
Directional5Producer price index for construction work in Austria stood at 118.4 (2015=100) in 2023
Single source6Timber prices in Austria for construction rose 15.2% in 2023 to €650 per cubic meter
Verified7Rental costs for construction equipment averaged €45/hour for excavators in Austria 2023
Verified8Concrete price per cubic meter in Austria reached €142 in Q4 2023, up 6.3% YoY
Verified9Overall construction cost index in Austria increased by 5.9% in 2023
Directional10Transport costs for building materials rose 8.7% in Austria in 2023
Single source11Electrical installation costs up 6.2% to €85/sqm in Austria 2023
Verified12Roofing material costs increased 9.4% in Austria 2023
Verified13HVAC system prices rose 7.1% to €12,500 per unit average 2023
Verified14Insulation material wholesale price: €25/sqm up 11% in Austria 2023
Directional15Crane rental daily rate: €1,200 average in Austria 2023
Single source16Window frame costs: €450 per unit, +8.3% YoY in 2023 Austria
Verified17Land development costs per hectare: €250,000 in urban Austria 2023
Verified18Water supply pipe costs up 5.6% to €18/meter 2023
VerifiedCosts & Prices Interpretation
The Austrian construction industry is caught in a perfect inflationary storm where it now costs more to dig the hole, fill it, cover it, heat it, and even rent the shovel than it does to regret not building it five years ago.
Employment & Workforce
1Construction employment in Austria totaled 285,000 full-time equivalents in 2023, a 2.3% increase from 2022
Verified2The construction sector employed 7.2% of Austria's total workforce in 2022, with 312,400 persons
Verified3Average hourly labor cost in Austrian construction was €32.50 in 2023, up 4.1% from 2022
Verified418.5% of construction workers in Austria were foreign nationals in 2023, mainly from Eastern Europe
Directional5Youth unemployment in construction dropped to 8.2% in Austria in 2023 from 10.1% in 2021
Single source6Women represented 12.3% of the Austrian construction workforce in 2022, primarily in administrative roles
Verified7Apprenticeships in construction numbered 25,400 in Austria in 2023, accounting for 9% of total apprenticeships
Verified8Labor productivity in Austrian construction grew by 1.8% in 2023 to €185,000 per worker annually
Verified9Overtime hours in construction averaged 4.2 hours per week per employee in Austria in 2022
Directional10Skilled labor shortage affected 67% of Austrian construction firms in 2023 survey
Single source11Construction firms numbered 52,300 in Austria 2023, down 1.2% from 2022
Verified12Part-time workers in construction: 14.7% of workforce in Austria 2023
Verified13Training hours per construction worker: 42 hours annually in Austria 2022
Verified14Unemployment rate in construction: 3.8% in Austria Q4 2023
Directional15Self-employed in construction: 28% of total employment in Austria 2023
Single source16Age distribution: 35% of workers over 50 in Austrian construction 2023
Verified17Vacancy rate for construction jobs: 4.1% in Austria 2023
Verified18Migrant worker integration programs trained 4,200 in construction 2023
VerifiedEmployment & Workforce Interpretation
Austria's construction industry is steadily building itself up with more jobs, higher wages, and a welcome drop in youth idleness, yet it remains precariously scaffolded on an aging, shrinking pool of firms desperately hunting for skilled hands.
Market Size & Growth
1In 2023, the Austrian construction industry's total turnover amounted to €52.7 billion, reflecting a 3.8% year-over-year growth driven by residential and infrastructure projects
Verified2The construction sector contributed 5.4% to Austria's GDP in 2022, up from 5.1% in 2021 due to post-pandemic recovery
Verified3Austria's construction market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 2.9% from 2024 to 2028, reaching €58.2 billion by 2028
Verified4Residential construction accounted for 42% of total construction output in Austria in 2023, valued at €22.1 billion
Directional5Infrastructure construction spending in Austria rose by 6.1% in 2023 to €15.4 billion, fueled by EU-funded projects
Single source6Non-residential building construction volume in Austria was €14.2 billion in 2022, with a 1.5% decline due to office market slowdown
Verified7The Austrian construction industry's export value reached €3.1 billion in 2023, primarily engineering services to CEE countries
Verified8Civil engineering projects comprised 29% of Austria's construction market in 2023, totaling €15.3 billion
Verified9Austria's construction production index increased by 2.7% in Q4 2023 compared to Q4 2022
Directional10The market size for building completion in Austria was €38.9 billion in 2022
Single source11In 2023, Austria's construction output grew 3.2% to €48.5 billion, led by civil engineering
Verified12Commercial real estate construction valued at €9.7 billion in Austria 2023
Verified13Construction investment as % of GDP: 5.6% in Austria 2022
Verified14Eastern Austria construction market share: 62% of national total in 2023
Directional15Digital construction services market: €1.2 billion in Austria 2023
Single source16Repair and maintenance construction: 25% of total output, €13.2 billion in 2023
VerifiedMarket Size & Growth Interpretation
Austria's construction industry is solidly rebuilding its economic footprint, brick by residential brick and EU-funded bridge, even if its office towers are having a bit of a wobble.
Sustainability & Regulations
1Share of green buildings in new Austrian projects reached 45% in 2023, certified under Klimaaktiv standards
Verified2CO2 emissions from construction activities in Austria fell 12% in 2022 to 4.2 million tons
Verified368% of Austrian construction firms adopted BIM (Building Information Modeling) by 2023
Verified4Renewable energy installations in new builds: 72% solar-equipped in Austria 2023
Directional5Waste recycling rate in Austrian construction hit 92% in 2023, exceeding EU average
Single source6Number of LEED-certified buildings in Austria: 156 as of 2023, up 18% from 2022
Verified7EU Taxonomy-aligned construction investments: €6.8 billion in Austria 2023
Verified8Low-emission materials usage in projects: 55% of volume in Austria 2023
Verified9Compliance with Minergie-P standards in 28% of new residential permits in 2023
Directional10Energy performance certificates issued: 89,000 for buildings in Austria 2023
Single source11Passive house certifications: 2,450 new in Austria 2023
Verified12Timber construction share: 22% of new builds in 2023 Austria
Verified13Solar PV capacity added via construction: 1.8 GW in Austria 2023
Verified14Circular economy practices adopted by 76% of firms in 2023 survey
Directional15Heat pump installations in new projects: 65% penetration 2023
Single source16Biodiversity measures in 42% of infrastructure projects 2023
Verified17DGNB certifications granted: 210 buildings in Austria 2023
VerifiedSustainability & Regulations Interpretation
The Austrian construction industry is sprinting toward a greener horizon, with nearly half of its new projects now eco-certified, recycling almost all its waste, and increasingly building with timber and sunshine instead of concrete and carbon.
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