In 2023, Austria issued 45,200 building permits, yet construction costs rose too as steel climbed 12.4% and overall material prices jumped 7.8%. With energy costs still bearing the 2022 shock and Vienna issuing 8,450 new-dwelling permits in 2023, the pressure on budgets and labor is anything but uniform. This post pulls together the key Austria construction benchmarks from housing and infrastructure to wages, employment, and green build uptake.
Key Takeaways
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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 sector grew in 2023 with more permits, higher costs, and rising housing and green building activity.
Related reading
01 · Category
Building Permits & Projects18 stats
01
Number of building permits issued in Austria reached 45,200 in 2023, a 5.6% increase from 2022
02
Residential building permits in Austria totaled 32,100 units in 2023, valued at €12.8 billion
03
Vienna issued 8,450 building permits for new dwellings in 2023, up 7.2% YoY
04
Infrastructure project pipeline in Austria included 1,200 km of new roads planned for 2024-2030
05
15,300 non-residential building permits were granted in Austria in 2022, focusing on logistics
06
Completion of 28,500 new housing units in Austria in 2023, exceeding permits by 4%
07
Tyrol region saw 3,200 building permits for tourism infrastructure in 2023
08
Energy-efficient building projects approved: 12,400 in Austria in 2023 under BAFA standards
09
Public procurement tenders for construction exceeded 2,500 in Austria in 2023, valued at €8.2 billion
10
Upper Austria approved 6,100 industrial building permits in 2023
11
Styria building permits: 4,800 in 2023, focused on industrial parks
12
Salzburg residential completions: 2,900 units in 2023
13
Rail infrastructure permits: 450 projects approved in 2023
14
Office building permits declined 9% to 1,200 in Austria 2023
15
Hospital construction projects: 18 nationwide in Austria 2023
16
Carinthia tourism lodge permits: 850 in 2023
17
Asphalt production for projects: 7.2 million tons permitted in 2023
18
Burgenland wind farm foundations: 120 permits in 2023
Interpretation
Building Permits & Projects Interpretation
In the Building Permits and Projects category, Austria issued 45,200 building permits in 2023, up 5.6% from 2022 and with residential permits reaching 32,100 units valued at €12.8 billion, signaling a steady expansion of the pipeline even as new housing completions of 28,500 units ran 4% ahead of permits.
02 · Category
Costs & Prices18 stats
01
Construction material costs in Austria rose 7.8% in 2023, with steel prices up 12.4%
02
Average cost per square meter for new residential builds in Austria was €2,850 in 2023
03
Wage costs in construction increased by 4.5% in Austria in 2023 to €42,100 annually per worker
04
Energy costs for construction firms in Austria surged 22% in 2022 due to Ukraine crisis
05
Producer price index for construction work in Austria stood at 118.4 (2015=100) in 2023
06
Timber prices in Austria for construction rose 15.2% in 2023 to €650 per cubic meter
07
Rental costs for construction equipment averaged €45/hour for excavators in Austria 2023
08
Concrete price per cubic meter in Austria reached €142 in Q4 2023, up 6.3% YoY
09
Overall construction cost index in Austria increased by 5.9% in 2023
10
Transport costs for building materials rose 8.7% in Austria in 2023
11
Electrical installation costs up 6.2% to €85/sqm in Austria 2023
12
Roofing material costs increased 9.4% in Austria 2023
13
HVAC system prices rose 7.1% to €12,500 per unit average 2023
14
Insulation material wholesale price: €25/sqm up 11% in Austria 2023
15
Crane rental daily rate: €1,200 average in Austria 2023
16
Window frame costs: €450 per unit, +8.3% YoY in 2023 Austria
17
Land development costs per hectare: €250,000 in urban Austria 2023
18
Water supply pipe costs up 5.6% to €18/meter 2023
Interpretation
Costs & Prices Interpretation
In Austria’s Costs and Prices landscape, construction is getting noticeably more expensive in 2023 as material prices climbed 7.8 percent overall and steel jumped 12.4 percent, pushing the average new-build residential cost to €2,850 per square meter.
03 · Category
Employment & Workforce18 stats
01
Construction employment in Austria totaled 285,000 full-time equivalents in 2023, a 2.3% increase from 2022
02
The construction sector employed 7.2% of Austria's total workforce in 2022, with 312,400 persons
03
Average hourly labor cost in Austrian construction was €32.50 in 2023, up 4.1% from 2022
04
18.5% of construction workers in Austria were foreign nationals in 2023, mainly from Eastern Europe
05
Youth unemployment in construction dropped to 8.2% in Austria in 2023 from 10.1% in 2021
06
Women represented 12.3% of the Austrian construction workforce in 2022, primarily in administrative roles
07
Apprenticeships in construction numbered 25,400 in Austria in 2023, accounting for 9% of total apprenticeships
08
Labor productivity in Austrian construction grew by 1.8% in 2023 to €185,000 per worker annually
09
Overtime hours in construction averaged 4.2 hours per week per employee in Austria in 2022
10
Skilled labor shortage affected 67% of Austrian construction firms in 2023 survey
11
Construction firms numbered 52,300 in Austria 2023, down 1.2% from 2022
12
Part-time workers in construction: 14.7% of workforce in Austria 2023
13
Training hours per construction worker: 42 hours annually in Austria 2022
14
Unemployment rate in construction: 3.8% in Austria Q4 2023
15
Self-employed in construction: 28% of total employment in Austria 2023
16
Age distribution: 35% of workers over 50 in Austrian construction 2023
17
Vacancy rate for construction jobs: 4.1% in Austria 2023
18
Migrant worker integration programs trained 4,200 in construction 2023
Interpretation
Employment & Workforce Interpretation
In 2023, Austria’s construction sector continued to strengthen its workforce with employment rising to 285,000 full-time equivalents while foreign nationals made up 18.5% of workers, reinforcing how labor demand and workforce composition are key employment and workforce trends.
More related reading
04 · Category
Market Size & Growth16 stats
01
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
02
The construction sector contributed 5.4% to Austria's GDP in 2022, up from 5.1% in 2021 due to post-pandemic recovery
03
Austria's construction market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 2.9% from 2024 to 2028, reaching €58.2 billion by 2028
04
Residential construction accounted for 42% of total construction output in Austria in 2023, valued at €22.1 billion
05
Infrastructure construction spending in Austria rose by 6.1% in 2023 to €15.4 billion, fueled by EU-funded projects
06
Non-residential building construction volume in Austria was €14.2 billion in 2022, with a 1.5% decline due to office market slowdown
07
The Austrian construction industry's export value reached €3.1 billion in 2023, primarily engineering services to CEE countries
08
Civil engineering projects comprised 29% of Austria's construction market in 2023, totaling €15.3 billion
09
Austria's construction production index increased by 2.7% in Q4 2023 compared to Q4 2022
10
The market size for building completion in Austria was €38.9 billion in 2022
11
In 2023, Austria's construction output grew 3.2% to €48.5 billion, led by civil engineering
12
Commercial real estate construction valued at €9.7 billion in Austria 2023
13
Construction investment as % of GDP: 5.6% in Austria 2022
14
Eastern Austria construction market share: 62% of national total in 2023
15
Digital construction services market: €1.2 billion in Austria 2023
16
Repair and maintenance construction: 25% of total output, €13.2 billion in 2023
Interpretation
Market Size & Growth Interpretation
In Austria’s construction industry, turnover is already at €52.7 billion in 2023 and is set to expand to €58.2 billion by 2028 with a 2.9% CAGR, showing steady market growth despite pockets of weakness like a 1.5% fall in non residential building volume in 2022.
05 · Category
Sustainability & Regulations17 stats
01
Share of green buildings in new Austrian projects reached 45% in 2023, certified under Klimaaktiv standards
02
CO2 emissions from construction activities in Austria fell 12% in 2022 to 4.2 million tons
03
68% of Austrian construction firms adopted BIM (Building Information Modeling) by 2023
04
Renewable energy installations in new builds: 72% solar-equipped in Austria 2023
05
Waste recycling rate in Austrian construction hit 92% in 2023, exceeding EU average
06
Number of LEED-certified buildings in Austria: 156 as of 2023, up 18% from 2022
07
EU Taxonomy-aligned construction investments: €6.8 billion in Austria 2023
08
Low-emission materials usage in projects: 55% of volume in Austria 2023
09
Compliance with Minergie-P standards in 28% of new residential permits in 2023
10
Energy performance certificates issued: 89,000 for buildings in Austria 2023
11
Passive house certifications: 2,450 new in Austria 2023
12
Timber construction share: 22% of new builds in 2023 Austria
13
Solar PV capacity added via construction: 1.8 GW in Austria 2023
14
Circular economy practices adopted by 76% of firms in 2023 survey
15
Heat pump installations in new projects: 65% penetration 2023
16
Biodiversity measures in 42% of infrastructure projects 2023
17
DGNB certifications granted: 210 buildings in Austria 2023
Interpretation
Sustainability & Regulations Interpretation
In Austria’s Sustainability and Regulations landscape, progress is accelerating with 45% of new projects certified to Klimaaktiv standards in 2023 and construction CO2 emissions down 12% in 2022 to 4.2 million tons.
report visual · Comparison
Austria construction activity & climate/price signals in 2023
Permits, output, and key cost drivers are moving upward overall in 2023, while sustainability indicators remain strongly adopted across projects.
68% of Austrian construction firms adopted BIM (Building Information Modeling) by 202368%
Share of green buildings in new Austrian projects reached 45% in 2023, certified under Klimaaktiv standards45%
Overall construction cost index in Austria increased by 5.9% in 20235.9%
Number of building permits issued in Austria reached 45,200 in 2023, a 5.6% increase from 20225.6%
In 2023, Austria's construction output grew 3.2% to €48.5 billion, led by civil engineering3.2%
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Felix Zimmermann. (2026, February 13). Austrian Construction Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/austrian-construction-industry-statistics
MLA
Felix Zimmermann. "Austrian Construction Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/austrian-construction-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Felix Zimmermann. 2026. "Austrian Construction Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/austrian-construction-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
56 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level