More than a quarter of jobs still face worker shortages
Australia still faces shortages in 279 occupations, down from a peak but including nurses, teachers and tradies.
Australia's overall worker shortage is easing, but hundreds of essential roles remain unfilled. Jobs and Skills Australia found 279 occupations in national shortage in 2026, representing 27 per cent of all occupations, down from 29 per cent in 2025 and 36 per cent in 2023.
Almost half of all trades occupations are in shortage. Nurses, teachers, childcare workers and construction roles face the biggest gaps.
More than 120 occupations have been short of workers every year since 2021, pointing to structural problems. Employment Hero's James Keene said easier hiring overall helps little.
"A looser market overall doesn't help the builder who can't find a tradie or the clinic that can't fill a shift," he said. Retaining experienced workers while training pipelines develop remains key.
- 279 in 2026
- Occupations in shortage
- 27 per cent
- Percentage of all occupations
- More than 120 since 2021
- Long-running shortages
Why it mattersOngoing shortages in nurses, teachers and tradies can lead to longer waits for health services, harder childcare access, pressure on aged care, and delays to construction and infrastructure projects.
AustraliaFor ordinary Australians, persistent shortages in these fields mean tougher competition for childcare places, longer wait times for medical care, delays to home and infrastructure projects, and pressure on aged care services.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
