What workers are in short supply in Europe: recent report

Most on-demand professions in Europe

According to the latest report from the European Labour Authority, software development, healthcare, construction, and engineering specialists are among the most sought-after. The research analyzed the situation in 27 European Union countries, Norway and Switzerland.

Out of about 400 identified professions, 38 were identified as facing mass deficits. That means that at least 11 countries reported shortages in these professions. Approximately 38.82 million workers are employed in these roles across the surveyed countries.

Fifteen vacancies from the list are related to the construction field. Most countries highlighted professions such as bricklayers, carpenters, and joiners as in-demand. Machine operators, builders, and civil engineers are also popular.

Welders, metal structure assemblers, and installers are also considered on-demand.

The profession of a builder was included in the list of the most needed (Photo: Getty Images)

The list also includes popular IT-related professions, such as app developers, systems analysts, software developers, and analysts.

The healthcare sector holds significant importance. General practitioners, specialists (surgeons, cardiologists, neurologists), nurses, psychologists, physiotherapists, and paramedics are in high demand in nearly every country.

In the hospitality sector, chefs, waiters, bakers, pastry chefs, and confectioners are the most sought-after.

Evergreen professions

Many of the occupations listed are in constant demand, not situational.

"Professions like bricklayers, heavy truck drivers, plumbers, nurses, welders, electricians, software developers, chefs, doctors, and mechanics have consistently ranked in the top 10 across all four previous reports," the publication states.

However, some positions on the list are new. For instance, psychologists and physiotherapists are newcomers. Medical specialists made it onto the list for the first time in 2021, while paramedics have been included since 2020 – the year of the COVID-19 pandemic – and they continue to be relevant.

Nurses and doctors are needed in all European countries (Photo: unsplash.com)

Staffing issues in the hospitality industry

The issue of staffing shortages in the hospitality industry is not new. Many countries are grappling with this. However, except for chefs, who were featured in all previous rankings, all other vacancies on the list are new. Waiters, butchers, bakers, and fishmongers have made it to the ranking for the first time.

Countries with the greatest staffing deficits and causes

The report shows that staffing shortages are primarily observed in Northern and Western European countries, although Italy also faces significant shortages.

Switzerland, Italy, and the Netherlands have the highest shortage of workers, while Greece, Czechia, and Malta have the least.

"Over the past decades, the labor market has undergone many changes. Several factors contribute to this labor force imbalance. Technological changes, Europe's aging population, the transition to a more ecological economy, and recent events such as the war in Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic have all played a role," the publication writes.

New digital technologies are transforming most sectors of the economy, and more professions now require STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) qualifications.

The hospitality industry is looking for hotel managers, waiters, and salespeople (Photo: freepik.com)

Additionally, Europe's population is consistently aging. By 2100, it is predicted that the proportion of working-age people (between 20 and 64 years old) will decrease to 50%.

The healthcare and social security sectors require more workers, but it's challenging to attract new people and retain existing staff due to deteriorating working conditions. A new report from the International Council of Nurses warns that a global nursing shortage may result in a crisis in the coming years.