Employment

What the latest data reveals about labour market imbalances across Europe

Published

15 seconds ago

June 30, 2026

Europe faces a massive labour mismatch. To bridge the gap between shortages and surpluses, we need smarter reforms and mobility.

The newly released 2025 EURES report on labour shortages and surpluses shows that, while shortages are widespread across Europe, they are heavily concentrated in a few countries. This uneven distribution suggests that there is still considerable untapped potential for labour mobility in Europe.

A continent of contradictions

Skills shortages occur where demand for workers with a particular skill exceeds the supply that is available at normal wage levels. In countries like Bulgaria, Italy and the Netherlands, employers report difficulties filling a wide range of positions, from specialist doctors to welders.

According to the data, 57 % of these shortages are classified as medium or high severity. By contrast, in countries like Latvia, Austria and Finland, surpluses are more common, particularly in clerical roles and creative fields like graphic design.

Furthermore, the report highlights a striking statistic: 98 % of the occupations facing shortages in at least one country are simultaneously experiencing a surplus in another.

But these imbalances persist because several obstacles continue to hinder mobility:

Many workers are unaware of opportunities abroad.
One country’s qualifications might not be recognised by another.
Not speaking another country’s language might prevent employment abroad.
Less attractive wages elsewhere discourage mobility.

Sectors in crisis

The health and care sector is experiencing some of the highest levels of shortages in Europe. This comes as the population ages and demand for healthcare rises. Key roles such as doctors, nurses and care workers face persistent gaps, with many reporting longer hours and higher stress, raising concerns about future replacement needs in a sector where no European country has a surplus.

The green transition is also creating challenges. Retrofitting buildings and installing renewable energy requires electricians, plumbers and roofers, but these hands‑on roles take time to learn, and their demanding conditions often make them less attractive to new entrants.

Unlocking workforce potential

So, how can governments address these challenges? The report suggests a number of long-term solutions:

Facilitate mobility: Simplify qualification recognition and administrative processes, improve information flows and strengthen EURES job-matching services.
Improve job quality: Deal with problems related to working conditions (pay, hours, work-life balance), especially in health and construction.
Invest in training: Focus on vocational education, upskilling and reskilling, particularly to tackle the green and digital transitions.
Activate untapped labour: Encourage participation from women, older workers and migrants through targeted support and better skills recognition.

Discover one of the ways EURES has supported this effort over the past 15 years. You can also explore the report’s data and potential cross-border matches in the interactive dashboard on the EURES portal.

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