Innsbruck recruits care workers from Bosnia to fill staffing gaps

Innsbruck’s social services provider has recruited 85 care workers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, ORF reports, helping staff its eight senior homes. The company says one of the homes could not continue operating without them.

The initiative began in 2019 as a partnership with a nursing school in Sarajevo. Students visited healthcare facilities in Tyrol with support from the state and the West Austrian Training Centre for Health Professions. In 2022, four former interns returned to Innsbruck, prompting the Innsbruck Social Services GmbH (ISD) to expand recruitment.

ISD deputy nursing director Pedrag Tufegdzić said many of the workers were well trained but had struggled to find jobs in their profession in Bosnia. The company now uses a website in Bosnian to reach potential applicants online.

Working in Austria requires applicants to have their qualifications recognised. The process involves documents and approval from the Tyrol state government’s nursing department, followed by an application for a work permit through the Public Employment Service Austria. Applicants must also take exams in German.

Care workers Tea Popović and Gabrijela Topalović, who trained in Bosnia and now work in ISD homes, said learning German was a challenge. Popović said she passed five exams within six months to have her training recognised. ISD supports workers through the recognition process and, together with the city, provides free German classes.

The company also helps new employees find housing, open a bank account for their salary and apply for a Red-White-Red Card. Project initiator Ljubomir Mrkonja said recruiting workers from Bosnia was one of several measures needed to address the shortage of care staff.

ISD employs 1,500 people, about 750 of them in care roles. The company says its staff come from more than 60 countries.