EU Talent Pool / Shortage occupations
The roles Europe needs. By sector and country.
The EU Talent Pool (Regulation (EU) 2026/1047) focuses on occupations facing labour shortages in the countries taking part. This directory shows, for common roles, which countries list them as a shortage in the European Labour Authority's 2025 data.
Countries and severity come from the European Labour Authority's EURES report on labour shortages and surpluses (reference year 2025), compiled from national employment services. An occupation can be in shortage in one country and in surplus in another, or in some regions only. Always check the official shortage list for your target country before making career or relocation decisions.
Healthcare & care
An ageing population drives demand for nurses, doctors and care workers. Health and care occupations are among the most widely reported shortages in the ELA data.
| Occupation | ISCO-08 | Countries | Listed as a shortage in (severity where given) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nurses | 2221 | 20 | Bulgaria (high), Cyprus (high), Germany (high), Greece (high), Ireland (high), Netherlands (high), Norway (high), Slovenia (high), Austria (medium), Estonia (medium), Luxembourg (medium), Poland (medium), Portugal (medium), Romania (medium), Slovakia (medium), Spain (medium), Belgium, Denmark, Lithuania, Sweden |
| General medical practitioners | 2211 | 19 | Austria (high), Germany (high), Greece (high), Ireland (high), Latvia (high), Portugal (high), Slovenia (high), Bulgaria (medium), Czechia (medium), Estonia (medium), Italy (medium), Netherlands (medium), Poland (medium), Spain (medium), Cyprus (low), Norway (low), Belgium, Finland, Sweden |
| Specialist doctors | 2212 | 22 | Austria (high), Bulgaria (high), Czechia (high), Estonia (high), France (high), Greece (high), Ireland (high), Italy (high), Latvia (high), Norway (high), Slovenia (high), Spain (high), Germany (medium), Luxembourg (medium), Netherlands (medium), Poland (medium), Portugal (medium), Romania (medium), Cyprus (low), Slovakia (low), Lithuania, Sweden |
| Health care assistants | 5321 | 16 | Greece (high), Luxembourg (high), Norway (high), Romania (high), Slovenia (high), Bulgaria (medium), Estonia (medium), Germany (medium), Ireland (medium), Italy (medium), Netherlands (medium), Austria (low), Cyprus (low), Malta (low), Poland (low), Belgium |
| Home-based personal care workers | 5322 | 9 | Bulgaria (medium), Estonia (medium), Germany (medium), Ireland (medium), Netherlands (medium), Slovenia (medium), Cyprus (low), Poland (low), Denmark |
| Pharmacists | 2262 | 13 | Bulgaria (high), France (high), Greece (high), Italy (high), Estonia (medium), Germany (medium), Netherlands (medium), Romania (medium), Portugal (low), Slovenia (low), Spain (low), Belgium, Denmark |
| Physiotherapists | 2264 | 15 | Austria (high), Germany (high), Slovenia (high), Bulgaria (medium), Estonia (medium), France (medium), Greece (medium), Luxembourg (medium), Netherlands (medium), Romania (medium), Spain (medium), Lithuania (low), Portugal (low), Belgium, Sweden |
Construction & trades
Renovation and green building targets add to demand for skilled trades, which are among the most widely reported shortages.
| Occupation | ISCO-08 | Countries | Listed as a shortage in (severity where given) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricians | 7411 | 21 | Croatia (high), Germany (high), Italy (high), Netherlands (high), Norway (high), Romania (high), Austria (medium), Estonia (medium), Poland (medium), Slovenia (medium), Bulgaria (low), Czechia (low), Hungary (low), Ireland (low), Latvia (low), Lithuania (low), Portugal (low), Slovakia (low), Belgium, Denmark, Sweden |
| Plumbers & pipe fitters | 7126 | 20 | Bulgaria (high), Croatia (high), Germany (high), Italy (high), Netherlands (high), Norway (high), Romania (high), Austria (medium), Estonia (medium), France (medium), Slovenia (medium), Cyprus (low), Ireland (low), Lithuania (low), Poland (low), Portugal (low), Slovakia (low), Belgium, Denmark, Sweden |
| Carpenters & joiners | 7115 | 14 | Croatia (high), Norway (high), Romania (high), Slovenia (high), Austria (medium), Bulgaria (medium), France (medium), Germany (medium), Italy (medium), Netherlands (medium), Cyprus (low), Ireland (low), Belgium, Denmark |
| Bricklayers | 7112 | 12 | Croatia (high), Romania (high), Slovenia (high), Cyprus (medium), France (medium), Germany (medium), Italy (medium), Bulgaria (low), Lithuania (low), Netherlands (low), Poland (low), Belgium |
| Welders | 7212 | 21 | Bulgaria (high), Croatia (high), Germany (high), Italy (high), Norway (high), Poland (high), Romania (high), Austria (medium), Cyprus (medium), Czechia (medium), Estonia (medium), Ireland (medium), Latvia (medium), Netherlands (medium), Slovakia (medium), Slovenia (medium), France (low), Lithuania (low), Belgium, Denmark, Sweden |
| Roofers | 7121 | 14 | Austria (high), Croatia (high), France (high), Germany (high), Italy (high), Netherlands (high), Slovenia (high), Bulgaria (medium), Luxembourg (medium), Cyprus (low), Poland (low), Belgium, Denmark, Sweden |
| Concrete workers | 7114 | 13 | Croatia (high), Czechia (high), Romania (high), Slovakia (high), Slovenia (high), Bulgaria (medium), Germany (medium), Italy (medium), Latvia (medium), Lithuania (medium), Netherlands (medium), Belgium, Denmark |
| Painters & related workers | 7131 | 12 | Croatia (high), Romania (high), Germany (medium), Italy (medium), Bulgaria (low), Netherlands (low), Norway (low), Slovakia (low), Slovenia (low), Belgium, Denmark, Sweden |
ICT & engineering
Digital and green investment sustains demand for software developers, systems analysts and engineers.
| Occupation | ISCO-08 | Countries | Listed as a shortage in (severity where given) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software developers | 2512 | 13 | Cyprus (high), Czechia (high), Romania (high), Germany (medium), Ireland (medium), Italy (medium), Norway (medium), Bulgaria (low), Netherlands (low), Portugal (low), Slovenia (low), Belgium, Sweden |
| Systems analysts | 2511 | 9 | Cyprus (high), Austria (medium), Bulgaria (medium), Ireland (medium), Netherlands (medium), Romania (medium), Czechia (low), Slovenia (low), Sweden |
| Database designers & administrators | 2521 | 8 | Bulgaria (high), Cyprus (medium), Czechia (medium), Greece (medium), Italy (medium), Netherlands (medium), Romania (medium), Belgium |
| Civil engineers | 2142 | 13 | Bulgaria (high), Netherlands (high), Romania (high), Slovenia (high), Estonia (medium), France (medium), Germany (medium), Ireland (medium), Italy (medium), Luxembourg (medium), Portugal (medium), Lithuania (low), Belgium |
| Mechanical engineers | 2144 | 10 | Bulgaria (high), Netherlands (high), Slovenia (high), Ireland (medium), Italy (medium), Romania (medium), Cyprus (low), Czechia (low), Belgium, Sweden |
| Electrical engineers | 2151 | 15 | Austria (high), Germany (high), Italy (high), Netherlands (high), Romania (high), Slovenia (high), Bulgaria (medium), Portugal (medium), Cyprus (low), Czechia (low), Ireland (low), Lithuania (low), Belgium, Denmark, Sweden |
| ICT technicians | 3511 | 4 | Greece (medium), Bulgaria (low), Spain (low), Denmark |
Transport & logistics
An ageing driver workforce keeps professional driving and vehicle maintenance on many countries' shortage lists.
| Occupation | ISCO-08 | Countries | Listed as a shortage in (severity where given) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy truck & lorry drivers | 8332 | 19 | Bulgaria (high), Croatia (high), Netherlands (high), Romania (high), Slovakia (high), Slovenia (high), Cyprus (medium), Czechia (medium), Estonia (medium), Germany (medium), Ireland (medium), Italy (medium), Latvia (medium), Lithuania (medium), Norway (medium), Poland (medium), Portugal (low), Belgium, Sweden |
| Bus & tram drivers | 8331 | 19 | Bulgaria (high), Cyprus (high), Czechia (high), Italy (high), Romania (high), Slovenia (high), Estonia (medium), France (medium), Germany (medium), Ireland (medium), Netherlands (medium), Norway (medium), Portugal (medium), Slovakia (medium), Lithuania (low), Poland (low), Belgium, Denmark, Sweden |
| Car, taxi & van drivers | 8322 | 5 | Romania (high), Italy (medium), Netherlands (low), Norway (low), Sweden |
| Mechanics & vehicle repairers | 7231 | 15 | Austria (high), Croatia (high), France (high), Germany (high), Italy (high), Netherlands (high), Norway (high), Bulgaria (medium), Luxembourg (medium), Portugal (medium), Slovenia (medium), Poland (low), Belgium, Denmark, Sweden |
| Freight handlers (warehouse) | 9333 | 3 | Italy (medium), Hungary (low), Netherlands (low) |
Hospitality & food
Hotels, restaurants and food production report shortages of cooks, waiting staff and related roles in many countries.
| Occupation | ISCO-08 | Countries | Listed as a shortage in (severity where given) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooks | 5120 | 17 | Bulgaria (high), Germany (high), Greece (high), Norway (high), Slovenia (high), Italy (medium), Luxembourg (medium), Netherlands (medium), Romania (medium), Slovakia (medium), Cyprus (low), Czechia (low), Hungary (low), Lithuania (low), Belgium, Denmark, Sweden |
| Waiters | 5131 | 12 | Bulgaria (high), Croatia (high), Cyprus (high), Greece (high), Norway (high), Romania (high), Slovenia (high), Germany (medium), Italy (medium), Netherlands (medium), Spain (low), Sweden |
| Bakers & pastry cooks | 7512 | 12 | Norway (high), Croatia (medium), Germany (medium), Italy (medium), Romania (medium), Bulgaria (low), Cyprus (low), Lithuania (low), Netherlands (low), Slovenia (low), Denmark, Sweden |
| Hotel receptionists | 4224 | 10 | Greece (high), Germany (medium), Italy (medium), Netherlands (medium), Romania (medium), Bulgaria (low), Cyprus (low), Portugal (low), Slovenia (low), Denmark |
| Cleaners & helpers in offices and hotels | 9112 | 6 | Norway (high), Romania (high), Slovenia (high), Germany (medium), Italy (medium), Netherlands (medium) |
Green transition & STEM
The European Green Deal and REPowerEU raise demand for workers in renewable energy, energy efficiency and environmental technology.
| Occupation | ISCO-08 | Countries | Listed as a shortage in (severity where given) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical line installers & repairers (grids) | 7413 | 14 | Croatia (high), Germany (high), Netherlands (high), Austria (medium), Italy (medium), Norway (medium), Poland (medium), Romania (medium), Bulgaria (low), Cyprus (low), Portugal (low), Slovakia (low), Spain (low), Belgium |
| Air conditioning, refrigeration & heat pump mechanics | 7127 | 16 | Austria (high), Bulgaria (high), Croatia (high), Germany (high), Netherlands (high), Romania (high), Cyprus (medium), Czechia (medium), France (medium), Italy (medium), Luxembourg (medium), Portugal (medium), Slovenia (medium), Hungary (low), Poland (low), Belgium |
| Electrical mechanics & fitters (incl. solar) | 7412 | 17 | Austria (high), Croatia (high), Germany (high), Netherlands (high), Estonia (medium), Italy (medium), Norway (medium), Poland (medium), Romania (medium), Slovenia (medium), Bulgaria (low), Cyprus (low), France (low), Lithuania (low), Portugal (low), Belgium, Sweden |
| Chemical & physical science technicians | 3111 | 4 | Italy (high), Ireland (low), Netherlands (low), Slovenia (low) |
| Metal working machine tool setters | 7223 | 15 | Croatia (high), France (high), Netherlands (high), Romania (high), Austria (medium), Bulgaria (medium), Estonia (medium), Italy (medium), Lithuania (medium), Norway (medium), Slovenia (medium), Czechia (low), Belgium, Denmark, Sweden |
| Environmental engineers | 2143 | 3 | Netherlands (medium), Austria (low), Denmark |
What to do next
Map your skills to ESCO
See how your occupation and skills translate to the EU taxonomy used by EURES and the Talent Pool.
Skill PortabilityCheck demand in your target
See live demand for your occupation by country — which markets are hiring and which skills carry the most weight.
Skill MarketBrowse jobs with sponsorship
EU employers are hiring now. The job board shows which postings say they sponsor a work permit.
Browse jobsData sources
- EURES shortage occupation data
- CEDEFOP skills intelligence
- Regulation (EU) 2026/1047
- ESCO classification v1.2
Demand levels and country shortages are indicative, compiled from publicly available EU labour market data. They do not constitute official shortage designations. Always verify with official national sources.
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