The Government has released its yearly list of jobs employers are struggling to fill.
Technician and trade worker jobs were the most likely to be in shortage, as well as nurses and early childhood teachers.
Overall, however, the total number of jobs in shortage has fallen three years in a row.
So which jobs are in shortage?
And does this list help decide who is able to migrate to Australia?
Here’s what you need to know.
Background
Every year the Government’s jobs agency, Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), analyses which jobs are going unfilled.
It looks at how many vacancies are filled, how long they take to fill and how many qualified people apply.
A job is considered to be in shortage if fewer than two thirds of vacancies get filled.
Governments, training providers and industry groups use the data to decide how to allocate money for training and workforce support.
2026
This year, 27% of the 1,021 occupations assessed were considered to be in a shortage.
That’s down from 29% last year and a peak of 36% in 2023.
JSA says the fall fits with a cooling job market.
The unemployment rate is slightly higher than a year ago, so employers may find it easier to fill roles.
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Trades are the most affected, with 48% of trade and technician jobs in shortage.
That includes electricians, plumbers, carpenters, and mechanics.
More than a third (37%) of “professional” jobs are in shortage too, including registered nurses, GPs, psychologists and pilots.
Newly in shortage: swimming coaches, anaesthetists, tow truck drivers, tyre fitters, signwriters and air traffic controllers.
No longer in shortage: school principals, actors, train drivers and accountants.
Why
The most common reason employers gave JSA is that applicants aren’t suitable, often because they lack experience.
For registered nurses, 63% of employers said applicants lacked experience.
The agency also says entry-level workers are finding it harder to land jobs to develop their experience.
Migration
The JSA also advises the Government on the list of jobs where employers can sponsor overseas workers.
It’s called the Core Skills Occupation List.
The shortage list is one of two main things the agency looks at when deciding which jobs to recommend.
The other is a wider mix of economic data and feedback from industry.
A Home Affairs spokesperson told TDA the list is “designed to complement the skills of the existing Australian workforce and meet changing workforce needs.”
