On Monday, the National Employment Agency (ADEM) released its latest list of occupations facing severe labour shortages. The report identifies roles that are “ardently sought by recruiters but have very few available candidates.”
The updated list now includes 22 professions, down from 24 in 2024. Employers seeking skilled workers in these fields can take advantage of streamlined procedures to hire non-EU nationals.
ADEM based its revisions on annual data, including the number of declared vacancies, registered job seekers per occupation, and positions that remained unfilled. New additions to the list include roles in mechanics – such as industrial maintenance, aircraft upkeep, and bodywork repair – as well as management consultants and rail traffic controllers.
Meanwhile, high-demand roles in healthcare (nurses, caregivers, social workers) and education (early childhood and specialised education) remain on the list. The finance sector also retains a strong presence, with accounting, credit risk analysis, auditing, and financial management control still in demand.
However, several professions have been removed, including financial market back/middle-office management, flooring installation and restoration, industrial production management, psychology, HR development, and IT project management. While ADEM notes these fields “remain under tension”, the supply-demand gap in 2024 no longer meets the criteria for “very short supply.”
To expedite hiring, employers can apply for a “foreign labour” certificate when submitting a vacancy to ADEM – or at any point during the job posting’s validity period. If the role matches a listed shortage occupation, ADEM guarantees approval within five working days of receiving the application, encouraging employers to report these vacancies.
