101st Euroconstruct Conference: European Construction Market Outlook until 2028 – Austrian Construction Market Development. Country Report Austria

Michael Klien and Michael Weingärtler
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Michael Weingärtler: WIFO

in WIFO Studies from WIFO

Abstract: Austria's construction sector faces a fragile recovery shaped by macroeconomic headwinds, as the country emerges from two consecutive years of recession only to have its nascent rebound interrupted by an energy-price shock stemming from the Iran war. Within this environment, the residential segment shows partial recovery, with renovation outperforming new construction, transactions and house prices returning to growth, and building permits stabilising well below their pre-downturn peak. Non-residential construction remains weak, hampered by subdued external demand, cautious investor sentiment, elevated construction costs, and tightening public budgets, with a meaningful rebound unlikely before 2027. Civil engineering stays anchored by transport infrastructure but loses momentum under fiscal consolidation, even as energy-related works emerge as the most resilient segment, propelled by renewables targets, grid reinforcement, and a regulatory shift toward storage and flexibility infrastructure. Overall, the outlook is cautiously positive but weak, with structural drivers such as demographic ageing, ESG-driven modernization, and energy-system transformation providing support against cyclical and fiscal constraints.

Keywords: Austria; Construction; Housing; Non-Residential; Civil Engineering; Economy; Forecasts; Euroconstruct (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026 Written 2026-06-15
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