World Champion Austria Burgenland
Burgenland is focusing on digitisation Manfred Gerger, President of the Burgenland Federation of Industries, on “his” businesses and the positive side of the Covid pandemic – the much-needed rapid increase in digitisation.
T
© IV Burgenland
he Austrian Institute for SME Research’s economic report for Burgenland’s trade and craft sector has given reason for hope: Companies ranked the business situation in the 2nd quarter of 2021 considerably better than in the same quarter of the previous year. Even though supply difficulties and price increases continue to cause concern, especially in the investment goods sectors, the outlook for the third quarter is one of cautious optimism. The shortage of skilled workers remains a problem. Burgenland’s companies in both the capital goods sector as well as in consumer related sectors are optimistic. A survey by the Austrian Institute for SME Research also showed that one in four companies is looking for employees.
Ingrid Puschautz-Meidl, Managing Director of the Burgenland Federation of Industries
“The capital goods related industries, which primarily include the trades in the construction industry, can not complain about the lack of orders. However, these businesses are suffering as a result of the strained situation on the procurement market,” explained Division Chairman Gerald Guttmann from the Burgenland Economic Chamber. “It is encouraging to note that for the first time since the 4th quarter of 2019, businesses in the consumer-related sector (automotive/mechatronics, food, health/wellness, creative/design) are once again predominating with optimistic turnover expectations.” Economic survey in the industry sector The economic survey for the 2nd quarter of 2021 by the Burgenland Federation of Industries and the Industry Division of the Burgenland Economic Chamber also paints a much more positive picture than in the previous quarters. For almost all of the indicators queried, the assessment is more optimistic and in part much better than in the previous quarter. However, this does not mean that we can predict that the situation will ease in the long term. The booming global economy is causing problems in the supply chain of domestic companies and is causing costs to increase rapidly. Burgenland’s industry can also be very pleased with the high-capacity utilisation and the full order books, but at the same time faces the problem of significantly increased costs, explains Ingrid Puschautz-Meidl, Managing Director of the Burgenland Federation of Industries. “Many companies are operating at full capacity, but whether this will result in an economic success remains to be seen due to the uncertainty of rising costs.” It is positive to note that 19 percent of the companies surveyed want to employ new staff in the next three months. “However, recruiting more employees in Burgenland is becoming increasing-
