German as a Key Skill

76 percent of employers require C-level German

WU ZBP Career Center surveyed employers at the beginning of 2026: Only 4 percent of employers state that they do not ask for any German language skills from their (new) employees. In contrast, 76 percent of employers require C-level German, meaning native-speaker level!

Asked more specifically, 72 percent of employers state that German is the common corporate language, while another 16 percent cite English as their main business language, with German also being used—for example, in communication with customers or suppliers.

No German: no match!

The Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKO) also confirms in its report "Drivers of Post-Graduation Migration Among International Master Students in Austria 2025" that many international students are unable to enter the job market due to insufficient German language skills, and therefore leave Austria again.

That's a shame! Because even with AI, language skills remain a key competence! Of course, we all love "Emily in Paris", the American expat who charmingly stumbles through the basics of French. But real life—at least in Austria—is different.

Ursula Axmann, Managing Director of WU ZBP Career Center: "We regularly experience that international students who don't speak German meet frustrated employers. There's no match: Because good German skills are an absolute must on the Austrian job market! Therefore, one urgent appeal: Invest in your language skills early!"

Invest in language skills! 

WU Vienna offers many support options: The WU Business Language Center provides German language courses, Language Cafés, tandem language learning, and a self-study area! So that you can quickly go from team "I can get by in everyday life" to team "Let's go straight into negotiations".