The latest Eures report reveals a concerning trend of escalating labor shortages throughout Europe, signaling a fiercely competitive job market. Despite a slowdown in economic growth, European companies are struggling to find qualified workers to fill open positions in high-demand locations. This situation is particularly critical in vital sectors such as construction, engineering, healthcare, and ICT, as highlighted by EURES, the European Employment Services network.
Several interconnected factors are driving this shortage. Structural transformations spurred by rapid digitalization and the urgent shift towards sustainable, climate-neutral practices are fundamentally changing the skills required by employers. Simultaneously, demographic shifts across Europe and evolving workplace expectations are playing significant roles. Furthermore, unfavorable working conditions in some sectors and a mismatch between what job seekers desire and what employers offer are exacerbating the recruitment challenges identified by EURES.
The EURES report pinpoints several occupations facing the most severe deficits. These include essential roles like heavy truck drivers, nurses (especially specialists), medical doctors, electricians, roofers, waiters, and construction laborers. These shortages are not only widespread geographically but also deeply impacting industries, hindering economic progress across the continent, as detailed in the EURES findings.
The methodology of the EURES report has been enhanced in recent years to provide a more robust analysis. While data collected from EURES National Coordination Offices remains central, the report now incorporates a broader range of quantitative and qualitative data sources, strengthening its conclusions about the European labor market.
This year’s EURES report features a specific, in-depth analysis of the labor shortages within the construction sector, drawing attention to a particularly strained segment of the European economy. Additionally, the report provides focused examinations of the labor market situations in five specific countries: Ireland, Italy, Latvia, The Netherlands, and Poland, offering nuanced insights into regional variations within the broader European trend identified by EURES.
