Labor shortages continue to impact many countries, with some sectors facing persistent and increasingly international crises. Nations are actively seeking foreign talent to bridge these gaps. Which professions will be in the highest demand in 2025? What opportunities are there for prospective expats?
Labor shortages remain a global issue
Eurostat reports that the eurozone's job vacancy rate was 2.6% in the second quarter of 2024, with rates climbing to 3% in Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands. The European Union (EU) continues to face significant labor shortages, prompting the European Commission to unveil an action plan in March to address this issue, as it impedes economic growth. 63% of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) report recruitment challenges. Paradoxically, the EU's unemployment rate has risen to 6.4%.
According to an October 2024 report from the House of Commons Library, job vacancies in the UK between July and September stood at 841,000, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recorded 8 million job openings in August 2024, while Canada and Australia reported 648,600 and 329,900 unfilled positions, respectively, in their latest counts. Labor shortages also persist in Switzerland, China, Japan, and South Korea, with Switzerland reporting over 110,000 unfilled jobs. Last year, Japan welcomed a record 2 million foreign workers to mitigate its labor deficits.
Globally, while the focus remains on recruiting foreign talent, low-skilled professions continue to suffer from shortages due to a lack of appeal, notably in the hospitality sector. Among skilled professions, engineers, doctors, and scientists are in high demand. By 2035, the EU alone is projected to need over 8 million engineers, highlighting the ongoing demand in certain skilled fields for 2025 and beyond.
Healthcare
Healthcare professionals, who were greatly praised during the health crisis, remain in chronic short supply. In the United Kingdom, the National Health Service (NHS) crisis is deepening. An IPSOS survey from June 2024 identifies healthcare as the primary concern for Britons, ranking above the economy, housing, and immigration. A significant shortage of caregivers has led to a surge in postponed operations, despite previous government promises. The UK faces a deficit of approximately 2,000 anesthesiologists (projected to reach 11,000 by 2040), 50,000 doctors, and 46,828 nurses. Addressing these shortages is now a top priority for the new government.
France echoes this urgency, with the new administration striving to revitalize an overwhelmed healthcare system. Despite a slight increase in doctors (+1,672 in 2024, according to the Order of Doctors), it falls short of bridging severe shortages and regional disparities. Analysts attribute the scarcity of doctors partly to the numerous clause policy introduced in the 1970s to cap medical student numbers. Although the first Macron administration abolished this policy in 2019, effective in 2021, analysts suggest that over 10,000 medical students annually are needed to alleviate the shortage.
This shortfall extends globally, affecting countries such as Germany, Italy, Canada, the United States, Japan, South Korea, and Australia. The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued warnings about the dire situations in Central and South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia, with the Philippine health services facing a chronic shortage of 190,000 caregivers.
Personal services
Countries worldwide are grappling with aging populations, leading to increased demand for personnel dedicated to senior care. This workforce includes home care aides, live-in caregivers, and nursing aides who are employed in hospitals, retirement homes, health centers, and private residences, serving as essential contacts for seniors. Despite the critical nature of their roles, these professions face recruitment challenges due to the physically demanding nature of the work and often low compensation. In the United Kingdom, a British Medical Association report from September noted 112,846 vacancies in secondary care as of June 2024. In the United States, the need is also acute, with more than 960,000 professionals required to meet patient care demands. This chronic understaffing places a significant burden on professionals who are already overwhelmed by their duties.
Cybersecurity
As cyberattacks escalate, the demand for cybersecurity professionals across businesses is surging. Previously targeting large corporations and organizations, these attacks now also affect SMEs, hospitals, town halls, and other public entities. Cybersecurity has become a critical strategic focus for both companies and institutions. According to the latest report from the International Cybersecurity Forum (FIC), the advent of generative artificial intelligence could heighten vulnerabilities, offering new avenues for cybercriminals. Indeed, 85% of experts attribute the rise in cyberattacks to advancements in AI technologies. The FIC predicts cyberattacks will inflict costs exceeding $10,000 billion in 2025.
However, there is a significant shortage of cybersecurity experts. France aims to recruit 75,000 professionals in 2025. While Belgian companies allocate budgets to combat cyber threats, they face a shortage of qualified personnel. In 2024, 45% of large companies in Belgium reported a security incident, compared to 30% across all businesses. Additionally, 54% of companies indicated difficulties in finding cybersecurity experts. On a global scale, it is estimated that 4 million cybersecurity professionals are needed to address current demands.
Other IT professions
As technology increasingly infiltrates societies and various economic sectors, accelerated by advancements in artificial intelligence, the demand for information-related expertise is growing. The entire IT and digital sector is actively seeking more professionals, including web developers, designers, webmasters, data analysts, data scientists, computer engineers, cloud architects, digital project managers, SEO experts, support technicians, and software developers. Some argue that the rapid development of AI technologies threatens the IT sector, pointing to the United States and recent waves of resignations in the tech industry as evidence. Currently, the United States employs fewer software developers than it did pre-Covid, with the developer recruitment index showing a decline since the early 2020s (-4.6% in January 2022, -3.4% in January 2023). Despite these trends, other studies affirm that the demand for IT professionals will remain robust, both in the United States and globally. These studies emphasize that AI technologies do not eliminate the need for experienced human personnel.
International labor market and chronic shortages: Opportunities for expats
Numerous sectors are grappling with chronic labor shortages, including agriculture, transport and logistics, hospitality, education, construction, and environmental professions, impacting the core sectors of economies globally.
However, understanding these vast labor needs requires considering the immigration policies of various countries. The majority aim to recruit qualified and highly skilled foreign professionals, gradually raising salary thresholds to filter applications and limit the influx of low-skilled workers, as seen in the United Kingdom and Sweden. While state-published lists of in-demand jobs still include low-skilled positions, these are increasingly scarce. Nevertheless, prospective expats may find more favorable conditions if they specialize in a profession experiencing shortages. For instance, Germany's new immigration law offers advantages to foreigners skilled in sectors with labor deficits.
In response to these shortages, some countries are revising their immigration policies. Japan, for example, welcomed over 2 million workers (2,048,645 as of October 31, 2023, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare), primarily employed in manufacturing (27%), services (27%), and wholesale and retail trade (12.9%). The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) projects a need for 420,000 foreign workers by 2040. However, Japan faces competition from other nations like Australia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States, which are perceived as more attractive and open. Labor shortages are expected to persist into 2025, urging expatriates to stay informed about potential immigration reforms that could be more or less favorable.
Useful links:
Belgium: list of job shortages
Australia: list of job shortage
United Kingdom: occupations shortage list
Germany: most in-demand professions
Canada: Employment Canada program
