Half of Vienna residents have immigrant background

A total of 49 percent of all residents of the Austrian capital of Vienna have an immigrant background, meaning they were either born abroad themselves or have at least one parent who was, new study results have shown.

The third edition of the integration and diversity monitor study, conducted on behalf of the city government, also showed 31 percent of Vienna residents with an immigrant background are of the first generation meaning they were born overseas, while 18 percent are second-generation immigrants.

Additionally of all the city's residents, 23 percent have a foreign passport.

The results, used by the government for policy-making purposes, showed that since the mid-1990s more than half of all immigrants have completed high school.

Problematic however has been the transfer of foreign qualifications into the Austrian labor market particularly for immigrants outside of the European Union.

The results showed 34 percent of immigrants with a higher education work in fields below their qualification level and must accept a lower wage, something the city said it plans to tackle by improving recognition of existing skills and qualifications.

In addition 24 percent of residents are also unable to vote, something Councillor for Integration Sandra Frauenberger hopes to change as she says it is leading to a "democratic deficit," though amendments to the right to vote would have to be made at the federal level.