The latest EURES Report on labor shortages and surpluses in 2023 indicates that the European labor market is becoming tighter despite a slowdown in economic growth. As per the report, 84% of occupations experienced shortages in one or more countries. Sectors such as construction and engineering crafts, healthcare, and ICT were identified as the most impacted.
The report highlighted various factors contributing to this situation, such as shifts in the economy's structure, evolving labor trends and skill demands, demographic shifts, and societal changes. Additionally, approximately 40 of the identified professions facing shortages have been classified as severely impacted due to the scarcity of available workers.
Overall, the occupations most affected across Europe by the lack of workers include:
- Welders and flame cutters
- Plumbers and pipefitters
- Heavy truck drivers
- Specialist doctors
- Motor mechanics
- Nursing professionals
- Waiters
- Metal and machine setters
- Floor layers and tile setters
- Roofers
- Air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics
- Construction laborers
The EURES report also highlighted that the construction sector consistently encounters labor shortages. Factors such as the aging population, low attractiveness of employment within the sector, and skills mismatches were identified as contributors to this situation. According to the report, boosting the presence of underrepresented groups, particularly women, is likely to ease the shortages.
Construction is recognized as the largest industrial employer in the EU, employing nearly 13 million workers in three million companies throughout Europe. While skills mismatch emerged as one of the contributing factors to the shortage of professions, it was observed that several employees in surplus jobs possessed high skill levels.
The report emphasized that in the EU in 2022, 60% of employees in surplus jobs were women, while women comprised only 27% of the total in shortage occupations. This scenario, as per the report, results in a "less favorable" labor market for women compared to men.