Disparities Between National Council Composition and Population Demographics

A recent analysis conducted by the Momentum Institute highlights significant discrepancies between the representation within Austria's National Council and the demographic makeup of the nation's workforce. Notably, one in five employed individuals is excluded from democratic processes due to a lack of Austrian citizenship. Furthermore, the National Council shows a marked deficiency in the representation of women, younger individuals, and senior citizens, while it includes a disproportionately high number of executives compared to the general workforce.

The study emphasizes that members of the National Council are tasked with legislating and overseeing government actions, which necessitates a reflection of the population's diverse experiences, professions, genders, and backgrounds in their ranks. However, the analysis reveals clear socio-economic contrasts between the general populace and the political elite in Austria.

For instance, the proportion of young adults aged 18 to 29 in the National Council stands at only three percent, compared to 17 percent in the overall population. Similarly, individuals aged 60 and above are underrepresented, comprising 13 percent of the National Council against 33 percent in the population. Women constitute 51 percent of the general populace but only 37 percent of the council's membership. While the government cabinet is more balanced with ten women and eleven men, the overall representation remains skewed.

Moreover, the study points out that foreign-born individuals, who make up over 20 percent of Austria's population, are significantly underrepresented in the National Council. Of this demographic, only a tenth possesses Austrian citizenship, translating to approximately 2.5 percent of the total population. The analysis notes that the representation of foreign-born members in the National Council, with five representatives, is proportionate to their demographic size.

Education levels among National Council members also diverge substantially from those of the wider population. While 21 percent of the general populace hold a university degree, this figure escalates to 56 percent among the council members. The number of doctoral degree holders is significantly higher in both the National Council and the government, with nine and fourteen members, respectively, compared to just one percent in the general population.

Leadership roles are overrepresented in the National Council and government, with 60 percent and 86 percent, respectively, compared to only five percent of the working population. Additionally, the agricultural sector is notably more represented in the National Council, with eight percent of its members identifying as farmers, compared to just three percent in the general population. Military professionals also have a higher representation, while technical, office, and service occupations are underrepresented.

In particular, skilled trades, assembly, and support jobs, which engage a quarter of Austria's workforce, lack any representation in the National Council, highlighting a significant gap in the political representation of vital sectors of the economy.