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The shortage of skilled workers in the care sector is one of our society’s biggest challenges. The Pflegeverband Liezen in the Federal State of Styria is tackling this problem with an innovative and sustainable solution: In collaboration with the specialist recruitment agency 24HelfendeHände, ten highly qualified Filipino care workers are recruited for the region’s long-term care facilities. This project stands for professionalism, commitment and foresight – an investment that benefits those needing care and the community.
Investment in quality and humanity
The Pflegeverband Liezen is providing 140,000 euros for this forward-looking project to ensure the quality of care in the long term. The cooperation agreement between the Pflegeverband Liezenn and 24HelfendeHände, represented by Managing Director Sarah May Stangl-Feliciano, was signed on 12 December 2024. The aim is to bring at least seven qualified nurses (DGKP) and three nursing assistants (PFA) to Liezen.
Raimund Sulzbacher, Chairman of the Pflegeverband Liezen, emphasizes: “All those responsible for nursing have been aware for some time that the shortage of personnel in the nursing professions is an almost unsolvable problem for the whole of society in Europe. With a focus on this situation, we have been discussing this intensively on the board of the nursing association since 2023 and looking for possible partners to support us in recruiting nursing staff from outside the EU. We have found a competent partner in the recruitment agency 24HelfendeHände, which is based in the Liezen district and has excellent connections to the Philippines. The first Filipino care workers will start at the Pflegeverband Liezen this year.
I want to express my sincere thanks to the municipalities of the Liezen district. The representatives on the board and in the association’s assembly have set the necessary course for a good future for the Pflegeverband Liezen. This will provide noticeable relief for our nursing staff in the long term. Above all, I am pleased for our residents that we will continue to guarantee their care in the future.”
24HelpingHands: a bridge between cultures
The recruitment agency 24HelfendeHände specializes in placing Filipino nursing staff and has extensive experience in the intercultural field. The agency knows the Filipino culture, language, and local conditions inside out and ensures that the nurses are optimally prepared for their work and life in Austria.
A key success factor is the close cooperation with two experienced partner agencies in the Philippines. These agencies have specialized in recruiting nurses for the European market for many years. This long-standing expertise guarantees a careful selection of qualified specialists with the necessary language and professional qualifications.
Sarah May Stangl-Feliciano, half Filipino, acts as a bridge between the professionals, the nursing association and the Filipino communities in Austria. Feliciano mentioned three important procedures with regard to the recruitment of health care workers:
- Targeted recruitment: Selection of qualified professionals with recognized training and German language skills at B1 level.
- Intercultural preparation: language courses, mentoring and introduction to Austrian care standards.
- On-site support: assistance finding accommodation, integrating, and networking with local communities and associations.
For Sarah May Stangl-Feliciano, this project is a matter close to her heart. Her mother was one of the first Filipino nurses in Austria and laid the foundations for the successful integration of Filipino nurses decades ago.
“I moved here ten years ago and had to experience in my own family how difficult it is to get and keep nursing staff in our region. This project is the first real step towards securing our nursing care for our beautiful region,” said Sarah May Stangl-Feliciano.
“I am delighted to be able to implement this unique and first-time project here in the Liezen district! It means a lot to me not only to support Austria in overcoming the shortage of nursing staff, but also to give Filipino nurses the chance to gain a foothold in Austria,” Sarah May Stangl-Feliciano added,
A benefit for the Liezen district
This project not only offers a solution to the acute shortage of skilled workers, but also brings long-term benefits for the region:
- Strengthening the labor market: highly qualified nursing staff provide stability in long-term care.
- Economic upturn: The new skilled workers and their families bring purchasing power to the region.
- Intercultural enrichment: The exchange between Austrian and Filipino nursing staff strengthens social cohesion.
- Sustainable employee retention: The long-term integration of the skilled workers and their families secures the future of the care facilities.
About the Pflegeverband Liezen
Pflegeverband Liezen operates seven care facilities and offers additional services such as assisted living, day centers and “meals on wheels”. With over 460 employees, Pflegeverband Liezen is the largest employer in the district’s care sector.
In addition, the care association offers specialized dementia counselling services to provide professional support for those affected and their relatives. A special offer is the Memory Cafés, which provide regular meetings for people with dementia and their families to promote exchange, support and joint activities in a protected environment.
About 24HelpingHands
24HelfendeHände Personalagentur GmbH, based in Bad Mitterndorf, is a competent partner for placing skilled workers in the healthcare, agriculture and forestry, hotel and catering and industrial sectors.
Current figures
The nursing staff requirement forecast, which Gesundheit Österreich GmbH prepared on behalf of the Ministry of Social Affairs in 2019, was updated accordingly and used as the data basis for an update. While 76,000 nursing and care staff (replacement and additional requirements) were projected from 2019 to 2030, this figure is now 51,000 from 2023 to 2030.
The forecast was also extrapolated to the year 2050. On average, around 7,000 more nursing and care staff per year will be required in the period from 2023 to 2050, of which around 5,800 will be nurses (DGKP, PFA and PA) and around 1,200 care staff from other professional groups (e.g. home help). Between 2018 and 2030, around 5,800 additional nursing and care staff were needed each year, of which 5,200 were caregivers. This shows that, in contrast to the original forecast, the need is being delayed somewhat because the number of older people is increasing less rapidly and the effects of COVID-19 are also becoming apparent. (this information comes from: https://www.sozialministerium.at/Themen/Pflege/Pflegepersonal.html)
Further information:
www.24helfendehaende.at
www.pflegeverband-liezen.at
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