Mood at the turn of the year
TQS Research & Consulting conducted a survey of 1,000 Austrians together with the online access panel horizoom to find out how Austrians are feeling going into the new year. The study provides insights into the mood in relation to politics, the media, the world of work, the financial situation and health. Comparisons were also made with previous years.
Conflict and doubt: How does Austria feel and trust?
More than two thirds (71%) of Austrians are somewhat or very negatively affected by the latest news, information and developments. This has not changed since 2022.
Austria is divided when it comes to trust in the media. Half trust the media when it comes to reporting, while the other half show less trust or no trust at all.
Trust in politics has deteriorated even further since 2022. 78% of the population have little or no trust that politicians or the federal government are taking the right measures for Austria. The assessment of security in Austria is completely different. 69% of respondents currently feel somewhat or very safe in Austria.
New Year’s trend 2024: No resolution is the best resolution!
Two thirds of Austrians say “no” to annual resolutions for 2025. Even if the majority do not have any New Year’s resolutions, the classics remain among the motivated 32%. In first place is the desire for a healthy diet (58%), closely followed by more sport (57%). Money also plays a role. The desire to save more comes in third place (43%).
Vaccination as a precaution
In 2024, 28% of Austrians have been vaccinated, with the influenza vaccination leading the way at 51%, followed by Covid (37%), tetanus (17%) and HPF (14%). The main reasons for this are clear: 71% want to protect themselves against illness, 43% act out of personal conviction and 35% feel a sense of responsibility. Towards others.
Older Austrians are more pessimistic about the new year
44% of respondents are entering the new year in an optimistic mood and almost one in five (19%) are entering the new year in a somewhat to very pessimistic mood. 37% of respondents are taking the year as it comes and are neutral. Older Austrians aged between 40 and 65 are significantly more pessimistic compared to younger Austrians aged between 16 and 39.
Inflation, war and politics: what worries Austrians!
The biggest concerns for the new year revolve around financial and global uncertainties. At 25%, inflation and the rising cost of living top the list of fears, closely followed by wars and global conflicts at 24%. Political uncertainties are in third place with 15%.
Only half of Austrians are currently working full-time
52% of Austrians work full-time, just under a quarter of respondents (22%) work part-time or marginally and around a quarter (26%) of respondents are voluntarily or involuntarily not working. The main reasons given for working part-time were family and childcare, training or studies or personal preference.
Top satisfaction with the current job
87% of working Austrians are somewhat to very satisfied with their current job. Austrians seem to have found the secret to the perfect balance. 76% of Austrians rate their work-life balance as good or very good.
81% of employees are confident that they will be able to keep their current job. 22% want to change their employer in the next 12 months. The youngest age group of 16 to 29 years is particularly willing to change jobs.
60 % never work from home
While the option of working from home sounds attractive to many employees, the reality paints a different picture: a full 60% of Austrians never have the opportunity to switch to working from home. Only 5% work from home every day, 7% use this flexibility 4-5 times a week. 12% work from home 2-3 times a week and 9% work from home once a week. 46% of Austrians would like to work from home at least one day a week. For 39%, working from home is not possible at all due to their job and 16% do not want to work from home at all.
Finances and saving under the magnifying glass
Half of the population rate their own financial situation positively. Men in particular are satisfied with their financial situation. The savings behavior of 39% of Austrians has not changed. 24% can save more and 38% of respondents can save less than in the previous year.
Sustainable, but skeptical
For 59% of respondents, sustainability influences their everyday decisions. The everyday lives of women in particular are characterized by sustainable decisions. 45% of respondents are skeptical about the impact of climate protection measures on our future. Only 10% of the population feel somewhat to very optimistic about the current status of climate protection measures and their impact on our future. Men are more often pessimistic about this issue than women.
Social cohesion
63% of Austrians see social cohesion and the social network in Austria as somewhat to very negative.
Future prospects
More than two thirds (71%) of respondents see their personal development and personal future prospects as somewhat to very positive. This proportion has risen by 22 percentage points compared to 2022. The 40-65 age group has a more negative attitude towards personal development and future prospects than people aged 40 and under.
Further details on the study including chart report: http://www.blog.tqs.at
