The labour market in Europe: where are the most vacancies and which professions are in demand?

The European labour market is undergoing a transformation — digitalisation, green energy and automation are creating new professions and reshaping traditional industries. Despite economic fluctuations, demand for specialists in installation, management, sales and IT continues to grow in all EU countries. Find out which sectors currently have the most vacancies and which professions will be most in demand in 2025

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The labour market in Europe is undergoing a period of active change. Technological innovations, the development of the green economy and the growth of the service sector are leading to shifts in the structure of employment. Despite the slowdown in economic growth, demand for skilled workers in key industries is not falling — on the contrary, it is growing. Euronews Business, citing data from Indeed, reports on the areas that are currently dominating in the United Kingdom, Germany, France and the Netherlands.

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Installation, maintenance and management

According to the study, the largest number of vacancies are in the installation and maintenance, sales and management sectors. These professions are consistently among the top five most in-demand in all four countries.

In Germany, the share of vacancies in equipment installation and maintenance is 14.5%, which is a record among EU countries. In the Netherlands, it is 9%, in France, almost 7%, and in the UK, about 6%.

Such specialists are needed in virtually every industry, from manufacturing and energy to medicine and construction. Companies are actively looking for mechanics, electricians and engineers who can keep infrastructure in working order.

Read also: Where in Poland is the greatest shortage of workers: updated data from GUS

Management and sales

Managers at all levels are among the most sought-after specialists. They account for 10% of vacancies in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, 7.6% in France, and 6.4% in Germany.

At the same time, the demand for sales professionals is growing. This sector ranks first in France and second in Germany. There is a shortage of people in the market who can combine communication skills, analytics and working with digital tools.

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Restaurant and service business

The catering sector is showing an impressive recovery. In the UK, the share of vacancies in this sector exceeds 10%, which is one of the highest figures. In France, it is almost 8%, and in the Netherlands, around 6%. In Germany, the figures are more modest, but experts note a growing interest in the professions of chef, barista and hotel worker.

Administrative support and IT

The administrative positions segment remains strong: 7.2% of all job ads in Germany, 4.7% in the UK, and 4.4% in the Netherlands.

IT, especially software development, ranks sixth in popularity. Germany is once again in the lead, with 5% of all vacancies going to programmers and developers. Companies are actively looking for specialists who can create and maintain digital solutions.

Education, medicine and care

In the UK, demand for care and home health workers is growing rapidly, accounting for over 6% of all vacancies. In Germany, there is consistently high interest in IT services and technical support (4.3%).

In France and the Netherlands, medical professions are among the most in demand: nurses and care specialists account for 4–8% of all vacancies. In the Netherlands, nursing ranks fourth in terms of the number of job advertisements.

New professions: AI, cybersecurity and green energy

The European labour market is actively forming new niches. Experts predict that in the next 5–10 years, the fastest growing professions will be those related to artificial intelligence, biotechnology, sustainable development and cybersecurity.

Among the new professions are generative AI engineer, climate data analyst, AI ethics expert, and sustainable development specialist. These roles are already beginning to appear in job advertisements across the EU.

Reminder! Official unemployment statistics in Europe hide much more than meets the eye. Beyond the reports are millions of people who are ready to work but cannot find a place in the economy. Why are countries with strong economies facing growing ‘invisible’ unemployment, and what lies behind the Eurostat figures? Find out which European countries are actually losing their labour potential.

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