There is a sense of alarm in the economy: one in six companies is considering emigrating

Worrying: 17 percent of companies – i.e. one in six companies – are considering relocating at least individual business areas abroad within the next three years. Industry, goods production, real estate, telecommunications and IT are particularly hard hit. KSV1870 boss Ricardo-José Vybiral warns: “If there is no noticeable relief, there is a risk of a wave of emigration with the loss of numerous jobs.”

Gastronomy as a problem hotspot

The industry situation shows clear differences: While 85 percent of financial and insurance service providers rate their situation positively, in the hospitality industry the figure is only 35 percent. High operating costs, structural problems, falling consumption and increasing competition make the situation particularly difficult here – with increasing numbers of insolvencies as a result.

Increase in sales without profit

44 percent of companies were able to increase their sales in the previous year, especially financial service providers and the healthcare sector. But cost pressure caused many profits to shrink – growth “on a fine line,” as Vybiral puts it. Only 27 percent expect sales growth for 2026.

Order situation: light and shadow

In 2025, 36 percent of companies reported increasing orders, 31 percent reported a stable level and 33 percent reported declines. Goods production stands out positively, while trade suffers from the slump in consumption. Regionally, Upper Austria has an above-average order situation (54% satisfaction), while Carinthia is at the bottom.

Industrial strategy fails

The “Industrial Strategy Austria 2035”, presented at the beginning of 2026, hardly convinces companies: only six percent are satisfied, almost half rate it as “mediocre”, and the same number as “dissatisfied”. Above all, there are no concrete plans to reduce costs and reduce bureaucracy. In contrast, 36 percent of industry see the conclusion of new free trade agreements – such as EU-Mercosur or EU-India – as having a positive effect on future economic development.

Conclusion: The results of the Austrian Business Check paint a picture of an economy that fluctuates between hope and disillusionment. Without decisive political measures, Austria’s quality as a location threatens to further erode – and with it the ties of many companies to the country.