2026-02-25 · NextMigrate Team
The Global Talent Shortage Is Real: These 15 Jobs Can't Find Enough Workers Anywhere
There is a narrative you hear a lot: the job market is tough, competition is brutal, there are hundreds of applicants for every position. And in some markets — and for some types of work — that is true.
But at the global level, the story is exactly the opposite. The world is short millions of skilled workers. Not in the future. Right now, in 2025. Hospitals cannot find enough nurses. Construction companies cannot find enough electricians. Tech firms cannot find enough engineers. Entire industries are operating below capacity because the workers simply do not exist in the places where the work needs to happen.
This is not a temporary blip caused by the pandemic. It is a structural shortage driven by aging populations, declining birth rates, and educational pipelines that have not kept up with economic transformation. And it is creating an extraordinary window of opportunity for skilled professionals in countries like Nigeria, India, the Philippines, Egypt, and Pakistan — countries that have the workers that the rest of the world desperately needs.
The Global Picture: 85 Million Unfilled Jobs by 2030
Korn Ferry's widely cited talent shortage forecast projects that by 2030, the global economy will face a shortage of approximately 85 million skilled workers — enough to fill the entire labor force of Germany and France combined. The economic impact: $8.5 trillion in unrealized annual revenue.
But this is not evenly distributed. Some countries and professions are in crisis now, while others have time before the shortage hits.
Talent Shortage by Country (2025)
| Country | Unfilled Skilled Positions (2025) | Shortage as % of Workforce | Projected Shortage (2030) | Most Acute Sector |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 8.2 million | 5.0% | 12.5 million | Healthcare, tech |
| Germany | 1.8 million | 4.0% | 3.2 million | Engineering, skilled trades |
| United Kingdom | 1.4 million | 4.2% | 2.3 million | Healthcare, construction |
| Australia | 520,000 | 3.8% | 890,000 | Healthcare, mining, trades |
| Canada | 680,000 | 3.5% | 1.1 million | Healthcare, tech, trades |
| Japan | 3.4 million | 5.1% | 6.4 million | All sectors |
| UAE | 145,000 | 2.8% | 280,000 | Tech, healthcare, construction |
| New Zealand | 92,000 | 3.4% | 165,000 | Healthcare, trades, agriculture |
Germany has 1.8 million unfilled positions right now. That is not a projection — it is the current count from the German Federal Employment Agency. The country's Mittelstand (the small and mid-sized manufacturing companies that form the backbone of the German economy) are particularly affected, with 43% reporting that labor shortages are their primary business constraint.
The 15 Jobs the World Cannot Fill
Here are the 15 professions facing the most severe global shortages, ranked by the ratio of open positions to qualified candidates.
1. Registered Nurses
| Country | Nursing Vacancies (2025) | Vacancy Rate | Average Salary | Projected Shortage (2030) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 47,000 | 11.8% | £35,400 ($44,600) | 108,000 |
| Canada | 28,000 | 7.2% | CAD $82,000 ($60,000) | 60,000 |
| Australia | 18,500 | 8.1% | AUD $85,000 ($55,500) | 38,000 |
| Germany | 35,000 | 6.8% | €42,000 ($45,500) | 72,000 |
| United States | 195,000 | 5.4% | $89,000 | 340,000 |
| New Zealand | 4,200 | 7.5% | NZD $72,000 ($42,500) | 9,500 |
| UAE | 5,800 | 9.2% | AED 180,000 ($49,000) | 12,000 |
The nursing shortage is the single largest professional shortage in the developed world. The UK's National Health Service has 47,000 unfilled nursing positions — one in nine nursing roles is empty. This is not a problem that domestic training can solve: the UK graduates approximately 28,000 new nurses per year, but loses roughly 25,000 to retirement and attrition, netting only 3,000. At that rate, it would take 16 years to fill the current gap, ignoring future growth in demand.
The Philippines trains approximately 130,000 nurses per year. This is not a coincidence — the country has the world's most established nursing education pipeline, and Filipino nurses are already the backbone of healthcare systems in the UAE, UK, Canada, and the US. But even this massive pipeline cannot keep up with global demand.
2. Software Engineers
| Country | Software Engineering Vacancies (2025) | Vacancy Rate | Average Salary | Time-to-Fill (Days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 410,000 | 8.2% | $135,000 | 62 |
| Canada | 85,000 | 9.1% | CAD $115,000 ($84,000) | 48 |
| United Kingdom | 92,000 | 7.8% | £62,000 ($78,100) | 52 |
| Germany | 68,000 | 6.5% | €65,000 ($70,400) | 58 |
| Australia | 52,000 | 8.7% | AUD $120,000 ($78,300) | 45 |
| UAE | 18,000 | 11.4% | AED 300,000 ($81,700) | 38 |
The UAE's 11.4% vacancy rate is striking — more than one in ten software engineering positions is unfilled. Dubai's push to become a regional tech hub has created demand that far outstrips the local supply, and the emirate is actively recruiting from India, Pakistan, and Egypt.
3. Physicians and Specialists
| Country | Physician Vacancies (2025) | Physician Density (per 1,000) | Target Density | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 8,500 | 3.0 | 3.5 | -14% |
| Canada | 6,200 | 2.8 | 3.3 | -15% |
| Australia | 4,800 | 3.9 | 4.2 | -7% |
| Germany | 9,100 | 4.5 | 5.0 | -10% |
| New Zealand | 1,800 | 3.4 | 3.8 | -11% |
| UAE | 3,200 | 2.6 | 3.2 | -19% |
The UAE has the largest proportional gap at 19% below target physician density. Canada's physician shortage is concentrated in rural areas, where some communities have waited years for a family doctor. The UK's GP shortage has led to average wait times exceeding two weeks for a non-emergency appointment.
4. Electricians and Electrical Engineers
| Country | Electrician Vacancies (2025) | Average Salary | Growth Driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 32,000 | AUD $92,000 ($60,000) | Mining, renewables, construction |
| Canada | 24,000 | CAD $78,000 ($57,000) | EV infrastructure, housing |
| Germany | 28,000 | €48,000 ($52,000) | Energy transition, manufacturing |
| United Kingdom | 19,000 | £38,000 ($47,900) | Renewables, grid modernization |
| New Zealand | 6,800 | NZD $78,000 ($46,100) | Construction, infrastructure |
| United States | 85,000 | $65,000 | EV charging, data centers, renewables |
The renewable energy transition is the primary driver here. Every solar installation, wind farm, EV charging station, and battery storage facility needs electricians. Australia alone plans to install 82 GW of new renewable capacity by 2030 — each gigawatt requiring approximately 400 electricians for installation and ongoing maintenance.
5. Civil and Structural Engineers
| Country | Engineering Vacancies (2025) | Average Salary | Key Projects Driving Demand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 15,000 | CAD $95,000 ($69,500) | Housing, infrastructure, transit |
| Australia | 12,000 | AUD $110,000 ($71,800) | Mining, urban development |
| UAE | 8,500 | AED 280,000 ($76,200) | NEOM spillover, mega-projects |
| United Kingdom | 11,000 | £52,000 ($65,500) | HS2, housing, flood defense |
| Germany | 14,000 | €62,000 ($67,100) | Infrastructure renewal, housing |
6–15: The Full List
| Rank | Profession | Global Vacancy Estimate (2025) | Highest Demand Countries | Salary Range (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Welders/Pipefitters | 420,000 | Australia, Canada, UAE, US | $48,000–$92,000 |
| 7 | Data Scientists/Analysts | 380,000 | US, UK, Canada, Germany | $72,000–$145,000 |
| 8 | Pharmacists | 165,000 | UK, US, Canada, Australia | $68,000–$128,000 |
| 9 | Plumbers/HVAC Technicians | 350,000 | Canada, Australia, UK, NZ | $52,000–$88,000 |
| 10 | Cybersecurity Specialists | 340,000 | US, UK, Germany, Australia | $85,000–$165,000 |
| 11 | Accountants/Auditors | 290,000 | UK, Canada, Australia, US | $58,000–$105,000 |
| 12 | Heavy Equipment Operators | 225,000 | Australia, Canada, UAE | $55,000–$105,000 |
| 13 | Physiotherapists/OTs | 180,000 | UK, Canada, Australia, NZ | $55,000–$85,000 |
| 14 | Teachers (STEM) | 320,000 | UK, Germany, Australia, Canada | $42,000–$78,000 |
| 15 | Construction Project Managers | 195,000 | UAE, Australia, Canada, UK | $72,000–$135,000 |
Why the Shortage Exists: The Three Structural Forces
Force 1: Aging Populations
The countries with the largest talent shortages are the same countries with the oldest populations. This is not a coincidence — it is causation.
| Country | Median Age (2025) | % of Workforce Retiring by 2030 | New Entrants to Workforce (Annual) | Net Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | 47.8 | 18% | 680,000 | -520,000/year |
| Japan | 49.5 | 22% | 510,000 | -840,000/year |
| Canada | 42.1 | 14% | 380,000 | -180,000/year |
| United Kingdom | 40.8 | 13% | 620,000 | -210,000/year |
| Australia | 38.4 | 11% | 310,000 | -95,000/year |
Germany is losing 520,000 more workers per year than it is gaining from domestic sources. Canada is losing 180,000. These are not gaps that can be closed by training programs or automation — the people simply are not being born.
Now compare that to the age profile of the source countries:
| Country | Median Age (2025) | % Under 30 | Annual Workforce Entrants | Domestic Job Creation (Annual) | Surplus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | 18.1 | 72% | 3,200,000 | 1,100,000 | +2,100,000 |
| India | 28.7 | 52% | 12,000,000 | 8,500,000 | +3,500,000 |
| Philippines | 25.3 | 56% | 1,800,000 | 1,200,000 | +600,000 |
| Pakistan | 22.8 | 63% | 2,800,000 | 1,400,000 | +1,400,000 |
| Egypt | 24.6 | 58% | 2,100,000 | 1,200,000 | +900,000 |
Nigeria's median age is 18.1. Germany's is 47.8. Nigeria adds 3.2 million people to its workforce every year but creates only 1.1 million jobs, producing a surplus of 2.1 million. Germany needs 520,000 more workers per year than it can produce domestically. The math practically writes itself.
Force 2: Educational Pipeline Mismatches
Even in countries that produce large numbers of graduates, the educational pipeline often does not match the skills in demand.
| Country | Annual STEM Graduates | But Shortage In | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | 340,000 | Skilled trades, nursing | University-heavy pipeline, declining apprenticeship enrollment |
| UK | 280,000 | Nursing, trades, teaching | Healthcare pipeline cannot keep up with NHS demand |
| Canada | 220,000 | Healthcare, construction | Immigration has been primary growth mechanism for decades |
| Australia | 175,000 | Mining engineers, nurses | Geography concentrates graduates in cities, shortages in regions |
Force 3: Geographic Immobility
Many shortages are not national — they are regional. Canada does not have a physician shortage in downtown Toronto. It has a physician shortage in rural Saskatchewan. Australia does not lack engineers in Sydney. It lacks engineers willing to work in remote mining regions.
This creates opportunities specifically for international workers, who — unlike domestic workers — are often willing to relocate to less popular locations in exchange for immigration pathways and higher compensation.
Regional Salary Premiums for Hard-to-Fill Locations
| Country | Profession | Metro Salary | Regional/Remote Salary | Premium | Immigration Incentive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Mining Engineer | AUD $130K | AUD $185K | +42% | Regional visa points bonus (+15 points) |
| Canada | Family Physician | CAD $280K | CAD $380K | +36% | Rural immigration stream, loan forgiveness |
| New Zealand | Nurse | NZD $72K | NZD $88K | +22% | Regional skill shortage list priority |
| UK | GP Doctor | £70K | £95K | +36% | Visa sponsorship priority for underserved areas |
| Germany | Electrician | €48K | €58K | +21% | Opportunity Card bonus for high-demand regions |
An Australian mining engineer working in a remote location earns AUD $185,000 — roughly $120,700 USD — plus additional immigration points that accelerate permanent residency. A physician in rural Canada can earn CAD $380,000 with loan forgiveness, housing assistance, and a fast-tracked immigration pathway.
What This Means for Skilled Workers in Developing Countries
The global talent shortage is not an abstract economic phenomenon. It is a concrete, measurable gap between the number of workers that developed economies need and the number they can produce domestically. And it is widening.
The Opportunity Matrix: Where Your Skills Are Most Needed
| Your Profession | Top 3 Destination Countries | Estimated Vacancies | Typical Salary (USD) | Immigration Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | UK, Canada, Australia | 93,500 | $44,600–$60,000 | Low (shortage lists) |
| Software Engineer | US, Canada, UAE | 513,000 | $81,700–$135,000 | Low-Medium |
| Physician | UK, Canada, NZ | 16,500 | $120,000–$280,000 | Medium (licensing) |
| Electrician | Australia, Canada, NZ | 62,800 | $46,100–$60,000 | Low (shortage lists) |
| Civil Engineer | UAE, Canada, Australia | 35,500 | $67,100–$76,200 | Low-Medium |
| Data Scientist | US, UK, Germany | 380,000 | $72,000–$145,000 | Low-Medium |
| Welder | Australia, Canada, UAE | 420,000 | $48,000–$92,000 | Low (shortage lists) |
| Pharmacist | UK, Canada, Australia | 165,000 | $68,000–$128,000 | Medium (licensing) |
| Plumber/HVAC Tech | Canada, Australia, NZ | 350,000 | $52,000–$88,000 | Low (shortage lists) |
| Cybersecurity Specialist | US, UK, Australia | 340,000 | $85,000–$165,000 | Low |
| Accountant | UK, Canada, Australia | 290,000 | $58,000–$105,000 | Low-Medium |
| Physiotherapist | UK, Canada, NZ | 180,000 | $55,000–$85,000 | Medium (licensing) |
| STEM Teacher | UK, Australia, Canada | 320,000 | $42,000–$78,000 | Low (shortage lists) |
The "Immigration Difficulty" column is important. For professions on official shortage lists — nurses, electricians, welders, plumbers — immigration processing is significantly faster because the government has already determined that domestic supply cannot meet demand. These roles often qualify for expedited visa processing, reduced documentation requirements, and priority in points-based systems.
The Window and Why It Matters Now
Talent shortages are not permanent. Three forces are working to close the gap: automation, AI augmentation, and increased training investment. But these forces operate on 10-to-15-year timescales. The shortage is here now, and it will persist through at least 2030 and likely 2035.
Projected Timeline of Global Talent Shortage
| Period | Shortage Severity | Key Dynamics | Opportunity Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025–2028 | Acute | Baby boomer retirements peak, training pipelines insufficient | Highest |
| 2028–2032 | Severe | Automation begins offsetting some roles, shortages persist in healthcare/trades | Very High |
| 2032–2035 | Moderate-Severe | AI augmentation reduces some demand, but aging populations continue driving healthcare needs | High |
| 2035–2040 | Moderate | New training pipelines mature, automation handles more routine tasks | Moderate |
The 2025–2028 window is the peak opportunity period. Baby boomer retirements are accelerating (10,000 Americans turn 65 every day), training pipelines have not caught up, and governments are responding by expanding immigration pathways. Canada increased its immigration target to 500,000 per year. Germany passed the most liberal skilled immigration law in its history. Australia expanded its Global Talent Visa. The UK created the Scale-Up Visa specifically for high-growth companies struggling to hire.
For a nurse in Manila, an engineer in Lagos, a data scientist in Bangalore, or an electrician in Karachi, the numbers tell a clear story: the world needs what you do, the countries that need you most are making it easier to come, and the window of maximum opportunity is right now.
The global talent shortage is not just a problem for developed countries. It is the single largest professional opportunity for skilled workers in developing countries in a generation. The only question is whether you will position yourself to take advantage of it before the window begins to narrow.
These 15 professions cannot find enough workers anywhere. If you have the skills, the destination countries are not just willing to welcome you — they are restructuring their immigration systems to find you.
