Market guide

Most In-Demand Jobs in Europe in 2026: Fields to Watch

What the European Labour Authority’s 2025 shortage report says about which jobs are hard to fill, where, and why moving abroad is not always simple.

EU Job Hub Editorial Team · Updated 1 October 2026 · Based on the 2025 EURES report

Introduction

The most in-demand jobs in Europe change by country and by year. No single list fits every market. The best source is the annual EURES report on labour shortages and surpluses. The European Labour Authority (ELA) publishes it.

The 2025 edition came out in June 2026. It draws on reports from public employment services across Europe. This guide summarises what it says in plain language. It avoids ranking single job titles, because the report does not do that for the whole continent.

Quick Information

Source	EURES Report on labour shortages and surpluses 2025 (ELA)
Shortages reported	2,617 across EURES countries
Surpluses reported	2,177, often clerical and elementary jobs
Most affected groups	Professionals, trades and machine operators
Most severe sector	Health and care, about 25 million workers

Most In-Demand Jobs in Europe: The Big Picture

The report says shortages remain widespread. Nearly every occupation is short of workers in at least one country. But the shortages are unevenly spread. A small number of countries account for a large share.

ELA says 57 percent of the shortages are of medium or high severity. The number of widely reported shortage occupations has fallen. Their severity has risen. The report calls the trend structural, not short-term.

The causes named are demographic change, skills mismatches, job quality and limited mobility. In other words, there are not just too few people. Often the right people are in the wrong place or lack the right skills.

Health and Care

This is the clearest case. The report says shortages are severe and persistent in health and care. The sector employs around 25 million people. Doctors, nurses and care workers face widespread and critical shortages.

ELA links this to ageing populations, long training periods, hard working conditions and heavy reliance on migrant labour. EURES also notes that no European country reports a surplus in this sector.

These jobs are regulated. You usually need your qualification recognised and proof of the local language before you can practise. Start that process early.

Skilled Trades and the Green Transition

EURES highlights a second area. The green transition needs electricians, plumbers and roofers to retrofit buildings and install renewable energy. These jobs take time to learn. Their working conditions make them less attractive to new entrants.

The report also says shortages are common among trades and machine operators, including many medium-skilled roles. This is worth noting if you do not have a university degree. Vocational skills are in demand. EURES lists welders among the roles employers find hard to fill.

Specialist Professionals

Professionals are another group where shortages are common. EURES gives specialist doctors as an example in countries such as Bulgaria, Italy and the Netherlands. These three countries report difficulty filling a wide range of positions.

The report does not label technology as a shortage field across Europe. Check your own country and role. Vacancy data from national employment services is a better guide than general lists.

Where There Are Surpluses

A job can be in demand in one country and in surplus in another. The report finds that 98 percent of occupations in shortage somewhere are also in surplus elsewhere.

Surpluses are more common in clerical and elementary jobs. Latvia, Austria and Finland report more surpluses, for example in clerical roles and graphic design. If your job is on a surplus list, look at neighbouring countries and other sectors.

Why Demand Does Not Equal a Job Offer

EURES names four obstacles to working abroad.

• Many workers do not know about opportunities abroad.
• Qualifications from one country may not be recognised in another.
• Not speaking the local language can block employment.
• Less attractive wages in some countries discourage moves.

ELA adds that administrative barriers also matter. The report also says mobile workers and migrants often end up overqualified or in surplus jobs. Better recognition of skills would help.

How to Use This Information

1. Pick one occupation that matches your real skills and training.
2. Check whether it appears as a shortage in your target country. The EURES dashboard shows data by country.
3. Confirm whether your qualification needs recognition.
4. Check the language and work permit rules.
5. Apply to real vacancies, not to lists.

Common Questions

Is IT the most in-demand field? The 2025 report does not single it out. It names health and care, trades and machine operators, and some professional roles.

Do shortage jobs get a work permit easily? Not automatically. Permit rules vary by country and by your nationality.

How current is this? It reflects the 2025 report, published in June 2026. ELA updates it each year.

Next Steps

Choose one occupation and one or two countries. Then search live vacancies on EURES. Prepare a clear CV, and check recognition rules before you travel.

Official Sources to Check

Rules change, so confirm every figure on the official page before you apply or travel. These are the pages used for this guide.

• ELA: Labour shortages and surpluses in Europe 2025
• ELA: 2025 EURES report launch
• EURES: What the latest data reveals about labour market imbalances

Continue Your Europe Job Search

Find vacancies, compare countries and prepare a stronger European job application at EU Job Hub, browse current jobs, or build a Europass CV.

Disclaimer: EU Job Hub provides general editorial information for jobseekers. It does not guarantee employment, sponsorship, work-permit approval or visa approval. Employment and immigration rules vary by country and by personal circumstances. Verify important information with employers and official authorities before making decisions. Never pay an individual or recruiter solely because they promise a job, placement or visa.