While many people have difficulty finding a job in the EU, there are a number of professions that struggle to find enough candidates. Find out more about the most in-demand professions in Europe in 2023

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In Europe, the problem of labor shortages is becoming more and more relevant. Countries are looking for specialists in various professions, such as doctors, builders, engineers, and waiters.

According to a report by the European Labor Office, software, healthcare, construction, and engineering specialists are among the most popular professions in the EU. 

It is noted that the study covered 27 countries of the European Union, as well as Norway and Switzerland.

Of the other more than 400 professions, 38 were recognized as massively deficient, meaning they require additional workers. These professions are of particular interest in at least 11 countries. In total, about 38.82 million workers are employed in these areas.

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What are the most popular professions in Europe?

Construction occupations are particularly popular, including bricklayers, carpenters, joiners, machine operators, builders, and civil engineers.

The software field is also in high demand for application developers, system analysts, software developers and analysts.

The healthcare sector has significant shortages, in particular of general practitioners, surgeons, cardiac surgeons, neurologists, nurses, psychologists, physiotherapists, and paramedics.

The hospitality industry is also facing staff shortages, especially in the areas of cooks, waiters, bakers, and confectioners.

Some of these professions are always in demand because they require constant availability of specialists. These include bricklayers, heavy truck drivers, plumbers, nurses, welders, electricians, software developers, cooks, doctors, and mechanics.

However, some of the professions on the list have become relevant more recently, such as psychologists and physiotherapists. In particular, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a growing demand for medical professionals, including paramedics.

What professions are becoming popular in the EU?

The labor market has undergone many changes in recent decades, leading to an imbalance between supply and demand. Technological changes, an aging population and other factors such as the transition to a green economy and global events, including the war in Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic, have all contributed to this situation.

The growing importance of digital technologies is changing many sectors of the economy, so there is a growing need for specialists in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

In addition, due to the aging of the population, the number of working-age people aged 20-64 is projected to decrease by 2100.

The shortage of workers in the healthcare and social welfare sector is becoming a particular problem, as it is difficult to attract and retain workers with specialized qualifications due to deteriorating working conditions. The International Council of Nurses (ICN) warns that the nursing shortage could lead to a global crisis in the coming years.

The report shows that the countries of Northern and Western Europe are most affected by the shortage of staff, although there is also a significant demand for workers in Italy. Among the countries where the shortage is minimal are Greece, the Czech Republic, and Malta.

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There are several reasons for this situation. First, technological advances and changes in the economy are forcing more professions to turn to qualifications in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). This leads to fewer people choosing traditional occupations such as construction workers or maintenance workers.

Secondly, Europe's aging population is leading to a decline in the number of workers of working age, exacerbating labor shortages. It is projected that by 2100, the number of working-age people will decrease by up to 50%.

Third, the COVID-19 pandemic has also had a major impact on the labor market. It has led to an increase in demand for medical professionals and forced many people to rethink their professional priorities.

In the health and social care sector, it is much more difficult to attract new employees and retain existing staff. Deteriorating working conditions, reduced motivation, and more physical and emotional stress put the quality of healthcare services at risk.

The solution for European countries is to find new ways to attract and engage the labor force, including from foreign markets. Also, promoting the creation of conditions for training and development in promising fields, such as STEM, can help ensure the necessary specialists for the future.

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