Austria's doctor shortage leaves young graduates in career limbo by 2030

Austria is facing a growing shortage of doctors, with young medical graduates struggling to secure essential training positions. By 2030, the country will lack around 1,000 general practitioners and 1,500 specialists, partly due to an ageing workforce. Many students, like Sibylle, are now uncertain about their future in Austrian healthcare. Sibylle, a final-semester medical student at Johannes Kepler University Linz, is currently completing her clinical-practical year (KPJ). To work as a doctor after graduation, she must first finish a mandatory nine-month foundation training program. Despite applying in multiple cities, she has yet to secure a place and remains on waiting lists in Lower Austria.

Her situation is not unique. The Austrian Medical Chamber confirms that many young doctors face similar challenges. In 2025, the Chamber estimated that roughly one-third of medical graduates were not contributing to healthcare in Austria. Some, like Tobias Kälble, a medical student in Innsbruck, are even considering moving to Germany due to limited job prospects at home. The Medical Chamber has ruled out adopting Germany’s model of skipping foundation training entirely. Instead, it proposes making the program voluntary, hoping to ease pressure on new graduates while maintaining training standards.

Without changes, Austria’s doctor shortage is set to worsen. The current system leaves many graduates in limbo, unable to start their careers despite completing their studies. If training bottlenecks persist, more young doctors may look for opportunities abroad, further straining the healthcare system.