In 2023, the number of self-employed individuals in the IT services sector in Austria stood at 21.46 thousand jobs. Since 2013, there has been a general upward trend, with occasional fluctuations. The period from 2017 to 2023 showed particularly strong growth, notably in 2021 when there was a 9.13% increase year-on-year. Over the last two years, the annual growth rates were 2.89% in 2022 and 2.04% in 2023.
Looking at the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the last five years, the average annual growth was approximately 4.05%. Forecasts for the upcoming five years (2024-2028) predict a moderate CAGR of 1.41%, projecting the number of self-employed IT professionals to reach 23.46 thousand by 2028, an overall growth rate of 7.27% from 2023.
Future trends to watch for include:
- Continued digital transformation driving demand for freelance IT services.
- Potential impacts of economic fluctuations on freelance employment patterns.
- Emerging technologies and their influence on the types of skills needed.
- Evolving regulatory frameworks affecting self-employment in the IT sector.
