The EU countries are grappling with significant labor shortages, particularly in sectors such as construction and engineering crafts, healthcare, and information and communication technology, as revealed by the latest EURES report.
Overall, the most widespread and severe shortage occupations were similar to those in the previous report. In addition, 367 out of 436 or 84 percent of professions were in shortage in one or more countries, VisaGuide.World reports.
According to the 2023 EURES report on shortages and surpluses, EU labor is tightening, regardless of slower economic growth.
In spite of slower economic growth, many companies are competing for workers who are willing or able to work in the jobs offered at the locations where they are needed. This is particularly obvious in construction and engineering crafts, healthcare and ICT occupations.
It was further noted that some of the factors contributing to this situation are structural change in the economy, new labor trends and skill requirements, and unattractive conditions of work or mismatches between employees and employers choices.
40 Shortage Occupations Severely Impacted by Lack of Available Workers
Of all shortage occupations, 40 of them were considered as significantly affected by the lack of available workers. The most common and severe shortages were identified among the following occupations:
- Welders and flame cutters
- Plumbers, pipefitters
- Heavy truck drivers
- Specialist doctors
- Motor mechanics
- Nursing professionals
- Waiters
- Metal, machine setters
- Floor layers, tile settlers
- Heavy truck drivers
- Roofers
- Air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics
- Nursing professionals
- Construction laborers
Construction Emerged Among Sectors With Most Labor Shortages
One of the sectors with the most severe shortages identified in this report was construction. Some of the factors driving this situation include the ageing population and the sector’s low employment attractiveness.
The shortages in the sector are not solely due to the low number of people employed but are also a matter of skills mismatch. Numerous occupations in this sector require new or changing skills due to the digital and green transition which are not yet provided by a sufficient number of workers.
According to the report, increasing the representation of underrepresented categories, especially women, would possibly help to ease the shortages.
With about 13 million workers in three million companies across Europe, construction is considered the EU’s largest industrial employer.
Over 60% of Women Were Employed in Surplus Occupations
Over 60 percent of workers in surplus jobs in the EU in 2022 were women, according to the report. Meanwhile, in the case of shortage jobs, women accounted for 27 percent of the total.
This results in a less favourable labor market situation of women compared to men.
The report further showed that numerous workers in surplus occupations were highly qualified, demonstrating that a better education does not automatically correspond to good job opportunities.
