CHAPTER 4
FACTS ABOUT
LIVING AND WORKING
in Linz
Here we explore ten key aspects of professional and personal life in Linz—from employment opportunities and business opportunities to leisure activities and social integration. These insights will help you navigate your new surroundings with confidence and make the most of what the city has to offer.
Strong job market
Linz is home to many industries, especially in technology, engineering, and research, providing plenty of job opportunities.
Here you will find some links to job postings (some links are only in German):
Salaries in Linz are competitive, especially in sectors like IT, science, and engineering, though they may be lower than in larger cities like Vienna.
The Arbeiterkammer (Chamber of Labour) in Austria represents employees' interests, offering legal support, labor advice, and advocacy for workers' rights (in German).
The Ärztekammer (Chamber of Physicians) in Austria is a professional organization that represents doctors. It regulates the medical profession, ensures quality standards, provides legal and professional support, and advocates for healthcare policies (in German).
Linz offers a strong support ecosystem for entrepreneurs and start-ups. Whether you're launching a business for the first time or scaling a growing idea, a wide range of consulting services is available to guide you through every stage.
The city-run Innovationshauptplatz, along with key organizations like WKO (Austrian Chamber of Commerce), tech2b and Creative Region, provides free or low-cost advisory services. These include help with business planning, legal structure, funding opportunities, networking, prototyping, and access to co-working spaces.
Specialized programs also support female founders, student entrepreneurs, and early-stage innovators with tailored mentoring and public funding (e.g. the Linz Founders Scholarship).
With its collaborative startup community, Linz is a great place to turn ideas into action.
Austria's work culture emphasizes a healthy work-life balance. Standard working hours are typically 38.5 to 40 hours per week. Employees are entitled to five weeks of paid vacation per year and approximately 13 public holidays.
Working hours and holiday entitlement An overview of employee rights and responsibilities from the ABA (Austrian Business Agency)
Normalarbeitszeit | Arbeiterkammer Oberösterreich An overview of working hours (in German)
While many companies use English, German is often required, especially for administrative tasks and networking. Consider taking German courses if you’re not fluent.
Here you will find some pages about German courses:
Linz has a growing startup ecosystem with co-working spaces and innovation hubs. The city supports entrepreneurship and tech-driven businesses. It supports start-ups and SMEs through incubators and innovation spaces like the Digital Mile, home to over 110 digitalization companies. For more information about our ecosystem, take a look at our Startup Guide Linz and Startup Guide Linz Europe.
Linz offers high-quality education, kindergartens, and playgrounds. The Salzburg-Vienna train route makes weekend family trips easy.
A CURIOUS FACT ABOUT LIFE IN LINZ
You're having a cosy lunch on a Saturday, you've had a long sleep and are turning over in bed, or you're out for a stroll around town and suddenly you're startled by sirens wailing loudly all around you? Don't worry! Nothing has happened.
Every Saturday at 12 noon sharp, sirens throughout Austria (except in Vienna) sound a test alarm. There is also a civil defence test alarm once a year on the first Saturday in October between 12 noon and 1 pm. Read more (in German)>>
Take advantage of the city's parks, sports facilities, and proximity to natural attractions like the Danube River and nearby hiking trails. The Botanical Gardens and the Hauptplatz are popular spots for relaxation and leisure.
On Linz Tourism, you will also find helpful information about parks, attractions, and activities in Linz:
Linz hosts Ars Electronica, Brucknerfest, and Pflasterspektakel. Museums, theaters, and concert halls make the city a cultural hotspot. Twice a year, the Urfahranermarkt comes to Linz with many rides (some links are in German):
Try Linzertorte, explore local coffee houses, and visit traditional Austrian restaurants (Wirtshäuser). The city also has a lively bar scene and beer gardens.