Labour shortages and surpluses in Europe 2025

This report analyses labour market imbalances across EURES countries in 2025. Although labour markets have eased since the immediate post-pandemic period, shortages remain pronounced in key sectors and occupations. This is driven by demographic change, skills mismatches, job quality issues and limited labour mobility. Addressing these challenges requires integrated policies combining skills development, activation, improved working conditions and better use of intra‑EU mobility.

Labour market imbalances across EURES countries 

Numbers of shortage occupations identified, by EURES country, 2025

Labour shortages remain widespread, affecting nearly all occupations in at least one country (2 617 shortages reported). However, they are unevenly distributed, with a small number of countries accounting for a large share. Shortages are most common among professionals, trades and machine operators, including many medium‑skilled roles. 
Surpluses (2 177) are more geographically concentrated and often affect clerical and elementary occupations. Importantly, many occupations appear in shortage in some countries and surplus in others, indicating untapped potential for cross‑border labour matching. 

Developments over time 

While the number of widespread shortage occupations, that is, those reported by more than half of countries, has declined, their severity has increased, suggesting shortages are becoming more concentrated and critical. Overall, imbalances are increasingly driven by long-term structural factors, requiring sustained policy responses such as improving job attractiveness, expanding training and supporting mobility. 

Characteristics of workers in shortage and surplus occupations 

Around one quarter of employment (53 million workers) is in occupations with widespread shortages or surpluses. 

• Women are under-represented in shortage occupations and over-represented in surplus ones, reflecting persistent occupational segregation.
• Older workers are over-represented in both shortage and surplus roles, pointing to significant upcoming replacement demand.
• Shortages are often linked to medium-level, occupation-specific skills, highlighting the importance of vocational training.
• Mobile workers and migrants help ease shortages but are often overqualified or in surplus jobs, underlining the need for better skills recognition and matching. 

Labour shortages in the health and care sector 

Shortages are particularly severe and persistent in health and care, which employs around 25 million people. Key roles- such as doctors, nurses and care workers - face widespread and critical shortages across countries. Addressing these requires improving working conditions, expanding training capacity and making better use of existing skills through innovation, digitalisation and organisational change.

Explore the shortages and surpluses 2025 interactive dashboard

Explore the ELA quantification of labour shortages and surpluses