The all-clear for apprenticeship funding: funding secured

There were fears in advance cuts, because the state funds for the Apprenticeship funding since 2023 capped and have not been adjusted for inflation since then. According to the Chamber of Commerce, this created a financing gap of around 74 million euros for 2026 alone. Longer-term financing from the responsible Ministry of Labor was also an issue due to budget constraints. The Chamber of Commerce (WKO) and the Association of Industrialists warned of negative consequences for apprenticeship training if there were cuts.

“Cost-containing measures”

Since the current funding budget for 2026 is not enough, it is coming from July 1st to adjustments. In order to relieve the burden on smaller training companies, which often only employ one apprentice, the basic funding per training company and calendar year continues to be 100 percent of the calculation basis.

However, for each additional basic funding that can be paid out whose apprenticeship year ended on July 1st, the funding amount is only 75 percent of the previous calculation basis. This “cost-dampening measure” is necessary because the basic funding to the companies grows annually with the apprentice collective agreements, but the cap remains static at 280 million euros, according to the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

For economic ministers Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer It was important “that we were able to avert impending cuts”. Not only will up to 280 million euros per year be secured for company apprenticeship funding, but from 2029 it will even be increased. “At the same time, we are making a contribution to budget consolidation with moderate adjustments.”

According to the Chamber of Commerce, apprenticeship funding only covers around a tenth of the companies’ actual training costs.