Strong women in Linz: New center for education and career opens

Strong women in Linz: New center for education and career opens

On July 1, 2025, the non-profit women's vocational center "she:works" opened its new location in the historic Linz tobacco factory, Upper Austria. This place has established itself as a center for well-paying jobs and fair conditions for women for decades.

At the Linz tobacco factory, almost 300 young women and those returning to work take part in courses and workshops. Programming and German courses are offered, among other things, to help participants achieve their professional goals and develop their potential. Thomas Gegenhuber, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Tabakfabrik Linz, emphasizes the growing need for qualified specialists.

Diverse offers for women

The target group of “she:works” is primarily women, young women and girls. The center's motto is: “Empowerment through training, further education and networking”. Denise Halak, managing director of Tabakfabrik Linz, describes the location as a place of creativity and education. Over 30 employees and trainers have been working at the tobacco factory since August 1st.

The courses are designed so that participants can explore different career profiles in a practical phase lasting several months. 17 apprentices are currently being trained at “she:works”. The collaboration with the organizations in the tobacco factory, such as IKT Linz, which has already taken on apprentices, is considered particularly valuable.

Support from local institutions

“she:works” is funded by the AMS Upper Austria and the state of Upper Austria, which underlines the importance and significance of this institution. Susanne Steckerl invites you to cooperate in order to support women in their further education and the creation of equal opportunities. These initiatives play a crucial role in improving career prospects for women in the region.