October 8, 2022
In 2020, some 12 500 enterprises in Austria operated under foreign control, according to Statistics Austria. This corresponds to 3.5 % of all enterprises in the market sector in Austria. In contrast, Austrian enterprises had over 6 700 affiliates abroad, mainly in Germany, Czechia and Hungary.
One fifth of total employment and one third of turnover originating from foreign controlled enterprises
Foreign affiliates in Austria employed one in five persons employed (21 %) and accounted for one third (33 %) of total turnover recorded for the Austrian market economy in 2020 (see table 1). On average, foreign controlled enterprises employed 51 persons each, compared to 8.4 for the total economy. The increase of foreign controlled enterprises in 2020 (+6.7 %) is mainly due to improved statistical methods (better coverage of indirect control). This mainly concerned small units having little effect on employment and turnover data.
In 2020, employment of foreign controlled enterprises decreased by 2 %, turnover by 9 % compared to 2019. This matched roughly the development in total economy for the same period.
Some 70 % of foreign controlled enterprises in Austria had their owner or their corporate headquarter within the European Union (see table 3). By far the most important partner country (measured by employment) was Germany, followed by Switzerland, the United States, Italy, the Netherlands and France.
Austrian foreign affiliates mainly Germany, Czechia and Hungary
Then number of Austrian affiliates abroad rose by 12 % in 2020, however, again mainly due to the improvement in the coverage of indirect controlled entities. Total employment rose by 8.1 %, while turnover decreased by 13.4 % (see table 2).
The main target countries for foreign affiliates of Austrian enterprises are still Germany, Czechia and Hungary (see table 4); expansions in numbers were recorded in Germany, the Netherlands and Czechia, in employment also in the United States, Switzerland and Türkiye.
Source: Statistics Austria
Legal Notice: The information in this article is intended for information purposes only. It is not intended for professional information purposes specific to a person or an institution. Every institution has different requirements because of its own circumstances even though they bear a resemblance to each other. Consequently, it is your interest to consult on an expert before taking a decision based on information stated in this article and putting into practice. Neither Karen Audit nor related person or institutions are not responsible for any damages or losses that might occur in consequence of the use of the information in this article by private or formal, real or legal person and institutions.
