FACTS AND FIGURES

The district of Wolfsberg consists of 9 municipalities (Preitenegg, Reichenfels, Bad St. Leonhard, Frantschach-St. Gertraud, Wolfsberg, St. Andrä, St. Paul, St. Georgen and Lavamünd). The valley has 53,707 inhabitants who live on an area of 974.08 sqm.

The municipality of St. Andrä holds the highest population density (89 inhabitants/sqm) and the municipality of Preitenegg the lowest with 14 inhabitants/ sqm. The population decreased in the years of 2011 and 2013 (-4.3%).

Major challenges for the region in the next years will be the decreasing birth numbers and the increasing support for the silver society, nursing and child care and school locations. The demographic change will bring a high population loss to rural regions in the future.

The "Lavanttal" is characterized by small and middle sized companies which are supported by a handfull of export oriented large companies. Also, the region has a good connection to the trans-regional infrastructure network.

The unemploymend rate of 7% in the district complies with the average rate in Austria and decreases. Apprenticeships are very hard to get, because according to statistics there are 2.8 seekers who want the same job. The job situation for women in the region is also difficult. The third sector is weakly differentiated and high qualified women (espacially university graduates) have problems to find the right position.