European employers are increasingly facing a shortage of skilled workers, especially in technology and engineering. Find out which European countries have the most acute shortages, which professions are the hardest to close, and which skills companies will value most in 2026

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The European labor market is experiencing a serious shortage of qualified specialists. As Euronews reports, companies in many countries are finding it increasingly difficult to find candidates with the necessary skills, especially against the backdrop of the rapid development of artificial intelligence and technology.

According to the Global Talent Shortage 2026 report, prepared by the international HR company ManpowerGroup, about 70% of employers in the world are facing difficulties in hiring personnel. The most difficult to fill vacancies remain in the field of IT, artificial intelligence and technical specialties.

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Why is the shortage of personnel growing in Europe?

The imbalance between the demand for specialists and their supply has significantly increased after the COVID-19 pandemic. If in 2006 approximately 40% of employers reported difficulties in recruiting personnel, then in 2026 this figure increased to 72%.

Experts attribute this to several factors:

- The rapid development of digital technologies and artificial intelligence;

- Changes in the labor market after the pandemic;

- The shortage of specialists with modern technical skills.

The problem is especially acute in large companies. Enterprises with 1,000 or more employees most often face difficulties in finding personnel - the level of staff shortage in them reaches 74%.

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In which European countries is it most difficult to find employees?

Among European countries, the most problems with hiring personnel are recorded in:

- Slovakia - 87% of employers report a shortage of candidates;

- Greece - 84%;

- Germany - 83%;

- Portugal - 82%.

For comparison, a much lower level of shortage is observed in: China - 48%, Poland - 57%, Finland - 60%, Czech Republic - 61%.

Read also about the countries in which it is easiest to get a work visa and start a career abroad.

The most scarce industries in Europe

The study shows that employers have the most difficulty filling vacancies in several key areas:

- IT and digital technologies - 75%;

- Hotel and restaurant business - 74%;

- Healthcare - 74%;

- Scientific and technical services – 73%.

These are the industries that need new specialists the most, but the labor market does not have time to provide a sufficient number of trained candidates.

What skills are most needed in different countries?

In most European countries, including the UK, the main demand is focused on specialists in artificial intelligence and information technology.

For example, British companies are looking for employees who:

- Know how to work with artificial intelligence models – 19%;

- Develop applications – 17%;

- Have experience working with IT systems and data – 17%.

A similar situation is observed in France, where there is a shortage of specialists in artificial intelligence, IT and data analysis, and production processes.

At the same time, demand in some countries is shifting to other professions. For example:

- Sweden, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and Slovakia are actively looking for engineers;

- Belgium, Ireland and Norway have a shortage of workers in logistics;

- Greece has an acute shortage of HR specialists.

15 professions with salaries starting at $60,000 in this article.

What soft skills do employers value?

In addition to professional competencies, companies are increasingly paying attention to the so-called soft skills. The most in demand remain:

- Teamwork and cooperation;

- Responsibility and work ethic;

- Adaptability;

- Problem-solving ability;

- Effective time management.

How are companies trying to solve the problem of staff shortage?

Many employers are trying to solve the problem of talent shortage not through external recruitment, but through internal resources, the most common strategies are:

- Upskilling and retraining of employees - 27%;

- Flexible work schedules - 20%;

- Increasing salaries - 19%;

- Expanding the search for candidates - 18%.

Read here where in Europe they pay the most in 2026, which EU countries lead the salary rankings, how the average and minimum incomes differ.

Thus, companies are increasingly investing in the development of their own employees to compensate for the shortage of specialists in the market.

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Reminder! Are you considering Portugal as a permanent residence? This country offers excellent employment opportunities for foreigners. We have already told you what the labor market looks like and what vacancies are most in demand in Portugal in 2025-2026.

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