Skill Shortage by Country
Every country publishes a list of occupations they cannot fill with local workers. If your skill is on the shortage list, your visa application is faster, easier, and more likely to be approved.
- Official shortage lists from 20+ countries
- Filter by your occupation to find matching countries
- Understand which skills are most in demand globally
- Direct link between shortage listings and visa pathways
Skill Shortage by Country
Official shortage occupation lists from 17 countries — find where your skills are most needed
Why Skill Shortages Matter to You
When your occupation is on a country's official shortage list, your work visa application is processed faster, fees may be reduced, and approval rates are much higher. Some countries skip the labor market test entirely for shortage occupations — meaning the employer does not need to prove that no local worker is available. Target these countries first.
Showing countries with occupations matching ""
Germany
Positivliste (Whitelist) — Federal Employment Agency (BA)
Benefit: No labor market test required — employer does not need to prove no German worker is available
Update Frequency: Updated every 6 months
Healthcare
- • Registered Nurse (Krankenpfleger)
- • Geriatric Nurse (Altenpfleger)
- • Midwife
- • Physiotherapist
- • Medical Lab Technician
- • Pharmacist
Construction & Trades
- • Electrician
- • Plumber
- • Welder
- • HVAC Technician
- • Carpenter
- • Roofer
- • Bricklayer
- • Concrete Worker
- • Tiler
- • Painter
IT & Technology
- • Software Developer
- • IT Security Specialist
- • Data Analyst
- • Network Engineer
- • SAP Consultant
- • DevOps Engineer
Engineering
- • Mechanical Engineer
- • Electrical Engineer
- • Civil Engineer
- • Mechatronics Technician
- • Industrial Mechanic
Hospitality & Food
- • Chef/Cook
- • Hotel Manager
- • Restaurant Manager
Transport & Logistics
- • Truck Driver (CE License)
- • Bus Driver
- • Rail Technician
- • Warehouse Logistics Specialist
Manufacturing
- • CNC Machinist
- • Tool and Die Maker
- • Metal Worker
- • Industrial Electrician
Poland
Shortage Occupation List — Ministry of Family and Social Policy
Benefit: Simplified work permit process — Type A permit issued faster for shortage occupations
Update Frequency: Updated annually
Construction
- • Welder
- • Reinforcement Worker
- • Scaffolder
- • Concrete Worker
- • Crane Operator
- • Bricklayer
- • Roofer
- • Road Worker
Manufacturing
- • CNC Operator
- • Metal Worker
- • Production Line Worker
- • Quality Controller
- • Forklift Operator
Transport
- • Truck Driver (C+E)
- • Bus Driver
- • Delivery Driver
- • Warehouse Worker
Food Processing
- • Meat Processor
- • Fish Processor
- • Bakery Worker
- • Food Packer
Healthcare
- • Nurse
- • Caregiver
- • Physiotherapist
- • Medical Technician
Agriculture
- • Farm Worker
- • Greenhouse Worker
- • Fruit Picker
- • Animal Husbandry Worker
IT
- • Software Developer
- • Web Developer
- • IT Support Technician
Italy
Decreto Flussi (Flow Decree) — Ministry of Interior
Benefit: Specific quotas reserved for non-EU workers in shortage sectors — guaranteed visa slots
Update Frequency: Annual quota published each year
Construction
- • Mason
- • Electrician
- • Plumber
- • Carpenter
- • Tiler
- • Heavy Equipment Operator
Agriculture
- • Farm Worker
- • Vineyard Worker
- • Olive Harvest Worker
- • Greenhouse Worker
- • Livestock Worker
Hospitality & Tourism
- • Chef
- • Waiter
- • Hotel Housekeeping
- • Kitchen Helper
- • Bartender
Healthcare
- • Nurse (OSS)
- • Caregiver (Badante)
- • Home Health Aide
- • Medical Technician
Domestic Work
- • Domestic Helper (Colf)
- • Elderly Caregiver
- • Babysitter/Nanny
Transport
- • Truck Driver
- • Delivery Driver
- • Warehouse Worker
Manufacturing
- • Factory Worker
- • Textile Worker
- • Leather Worker
- • Food Processing
Romania
Annual Foreign Worker Quota — General Inspectorate for Immigration
Benefit: Large quotas (100,000+ in 2024) — high acceptance rate for Bangladeshi workers
Update Frequency: Set annually by government decision
Construction
- • General Construction Worker
- • Welder
- • Electrician
- • Plumber
- • Painter
- • Scaffolder
Manufacturing
- • Factory Worker
- • Assembly Line Worker
- • Textile Worker
- • Electronics Assembly
Agriculture
- • Farm Worker
- • Greenhouse Worker
- • Fruit Picker
- • Poultry Worker
Food Processing
- • Meat Processing Worker
- • Bakery Worker
- • Dairy Worker
Transport
- • Truck Driver
- • Courier
- • Warehouse Worker
Hospitality
- • Cook
- • Kitchen Helper
- • Hotel Staff
- • Cleaner
Czech Republic
Shortage Occupation List + Ukraine Program Extension — Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs
Benefit: Employee Card issued faster for shortage occupations — combined work + residence permit
Update Frequency: Updated regularly
Manufacturing
- • CNC Operator
- • Welder
- • Assembler
- • Machine Operator
- • Quality Inspector
- • Automotive Worker
Construction
- • Bricklayer
- • Electrician
- • Plumber
- • Roofer
- • Carpenter
- • Concrete Worker
IT & Engineering
- • Software Developer
- • Mechanical Engineer
- • Electrical Engineer
- • IT Support
Healthcare
- • Nurse
- • Caregiver
- • Dental Technician
- • Lab Technician
Transport
- • Truck Driver
- • Bus Driver
- • Forklift Operator
Food & Agriculture
- • Butcher
- • Baker
- • Farm Worker
- • Food Processing Worker
Portugal
IEFP Shortage Assessment — Institute of Employment and Professional Training (IEFP)
Benefit: Job Seeker Visa available — enter Portugal and look for work in shortage areas
Update Frequency: Continuous assessment
Agriculture
- • Farm Worker
- • Vineyard Worker
- • Olive Picker
- • Berry Picker
- • Greenhouse Worker
Construction
- • Mason
- • Painter
- • Electrician
- • Plumber
- • Carpenter
- • Tile Layer
Hospitality & Tourism
- • Chef
- • Waiter
- • Hotel Receptionist
- • Housekeeping
- • Kitchen Assistant
Healthcare
- • Nurse
- • Caregiver
- • Medical Technician
- • Pharmacist
IT
- • Full Stack Developer
- • Data Engineer
- • Cybersecurity Analyst
- • Cloud Architect
Industry
- • Factory Worker
- • Warehouse Worker
- • Forklift Operator
- • Packing Worker
Hungary
Guest Worker Permit Program — National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing
Benefit: Simplified guest worker permit for non-EU nationals in designated sectors
Update Frequency: Ongoing — employer-driven
Manufacturing
- • Assembly Worker
- • Machine Operator
- • Welder
- • Automotive Parts Worker
- • Electronics Assembler
Agriculture
- • Farm Worker
- • Poultry Worker
- • Meat Processor
- • Greenhouse Worker
Construction
- • General Construction
- • Electrician
- • Plumber
- • Painter
Food Processing
- • Food Packer
- • Slaughterhouse Worker
- • Bakery Worker
Logistics
- • Warehouse Worker
- • Forklift Operator
- • Truck Driver
Croatia
Annual Quota for Foreign Workers — Ministry of the Interior
Benefit: Rapidly growing quotas — 80,000+ permits in 2024, up from 20,000 in 2020
Update Frequency: Annual quota (growing each year)
Construction
- • Mason
- • Welder
- • Electrician
- • Plumber
- • Carpenter
- • Painter
- • Roofer
Tourism & Hospitality
- • Chef
- • Waiter
- • Hotel Staff
- • Housekeeping
- • Bartender
Manufacturing
- • Metal Worker
- • Machine Operator
- • Factory Worker
Agriculture
- • Farm Worker
- • Fruit Picker
- • Fish Processing
Transport
- • Truck Driver
- • Bus Driver
- • Delivery Driver
Shipbuilding
- • Shipyard Welder
- • Fitter
- • Painter
- • Electrician
Canada
TEER Category / In-Demand Occupations — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
Benefit: Category-based Express Entry draws for specific shortage occupations — higher chance of invitation
Update Frequency: Express Entry draws target specific occupations periodically
Healthcare
- • Registered Nurse
- • Licensed Practical Nurse
- • Nursing Aide
- • Physiotherapist
- • Pharmacist
- • Dentist
- • Medical Lab Technician
Skilled Trades
- • Electrician
- • Plumber
- • Welder
- • Carpenter
- • Heavy Equipment Operator
- • Millwright
- • Pipefitter
- • Sheet Metal Worker
IT & STEM
- • Software Engineer
- • Data Scientist
- • Cybersecurity Analyst
- • Cloud Engineer
- • DevOps Engineer
- • AI/ML Engineer
Transport
- • Truck Driver (Class 1)
- • Bus Driver
- • Railway Worker
- • Aircraft Mechanic
Agriculture
- • Farm Worker
- • Harvester
- • Greenhouse Worker
- • Livestock Worker
- • Agricultural Equipment Operator
Construction
- • General Contractor
- • Iron Worker
- • Crane Operator
- • Concrete Finisher
- • Insulator
Australia
Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) — Jobs and Skills Australia
Benefit: Occupation on CSOL = eligible for employer-sponsored and independent skilled visas
Update Frequency: Replaced MLTSSL/STSOL in Dec 2024
Healthcare
- • Registered Nurse
- • Midwife
- • Aged Care Worker
- • Physiotherapist
- • Occupational Therapist
- • Dentist
- • Pharmacist
- • Psychologist
Construction & Trades
- • Electrician
- • Plumber
- • Carpenter
- • Bricklayer
- • Tiler
- • Plasterer
- • Cabinetmaker
- • Aircon Mechanic
Engineering
- • Civil Engineer
- • Mechanical Engineer
- • Electrical Engineer
- • Mining Engineer
- • Chemical Engineer
IT
- • Software Engineer
- • Analyst Programmer
- • Developer Programmer
- • ICT Security Specialist
- • Database Admin
- • Systems Admin
Education
- • Secondary Teacher
- • Special Needs Teacher
- • Early Childhood Teacher
- • University Lecturer
Automotive
- • Motor Mechanic
- • Diesel Mechanic
- • Auto Electrician
- • Panel Beater
Agriculture
- • Agricultural Scientist
- • Veterinarian
- • Agricultural Technician
New Zealand
Green List — Immigration New Zealand
Benefit: Green List Tier 1 = direct residency. Tier 2 = residency after 2 years work
Update Frequency: Updated periodically
Healthcare
- • Registered Nurse
- • Midwife
- • Anaesthetist
- • Psychiatrist
- • Surgeon
- • Sonographer
- • Medical Lab Scientist
Engineering
- • Civil Engineer
- • Structural Engineer
- • Electrical Engineer
- • Geotechnical Engineer
- • Environmental Engineer
Construction
- • Electrician
- • Plumber
- • Carpenter
- • Quantity Surveyor
IT
- • Software Engineer
- • ICT Security Specialist
- • DevOps Engineer
Trades
- • Automotive Electrician
- • Diesel Mechanic
- • Drainlayer
- • Gasfitter
- • Refrigeration Mechanic
Science
- • Veterinarian
- • Medical Physicist
- • Food Technologist
Japan
Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) Sectors — Immigration Services Agency
Benefit: Pass the sector-specific skills exam = work visa guaranteed (no employer needed first)
Update Frequency: Expanded from 12 to 16 sectors in 2024
Nursing Care
- • Elderly Care Worker
- • Nursing Home Assistant
- • Disability Care Worker
Building Cleaning
- • Commercial Cleaner
- • Building Maintenance
Material Processing
- • Casting Worker
- • Forging Worker
- • Metal Press Operator
- • Machinist
- • Welder
- • Plating Worker
Industrial Machinery
- • Machine Assembly
- • Machine Maintenance
- • Electrical Equipment Assembly
Construction
- • Carpenter
- • Reinforcing Bar Worker
- • Formwork Carpenter
- • Scaffolder
- • Interior Finishing
- • Plumber
- • Electrician
Shipbuilding
- • Welder
- • Fitter
- • Painter
- • Machine Finishing
Food & Beverage
- • Food Manufacturing
- • Restaurant Cook
- • Fish Processing
Agriculture & Fishery
- • Crop Farming
- • Livestock Farming
- • Aquaculture
- • Fishing Vessel Crew
Hospitality
- • Hotel Staff
- • Restaurant Service
Automotive
- • Auto Mechanic
- • Body Repair
- • Auto Painter
- • Chassis Maintenance
Aviation
- • Airport Ground Handling
- • Aircraft Maintenance
South Korea
EPS Designated Sectors (E-9) — Ministry of Employment and Labor
Benefit: Government-to-government hiring — no recruitment agencies, no broker fees
Update Frequency: Annual quota allocation
Manufacturing
- • Factory Worker
- • Machine Operator
- • Assembly Worker
- • Quality Inspector
- • Forklift Operator
- • Packaging Worker
Construction
- • General Construction
- • Reinforcement Worker
- • Formwork
- • Painter
- • Scaffolder
Agriculture
- • Farm Worker
- • Greenhouse Worker
- • Livestock Worker
- • Mushroom Cultivation
Fishery
- • Fishing Vessel Crew
- • Aquaculture Worker
- • Fish Processing
Service
- • Cold Storage Worker
- • Recycling Worker
- • Cleaning Service
Saudi Arabia
Nationalization Exemption List — Ministry of Human Resources (HRSD)
Benefit: Occupations exempt from Saudization quotas — employers can freely hire foreign workers
Update Frequency: Saudization targets updated periodically
Construction
- • General Laborer
- • Mason
- • Painter
- • Plumber
- • Electrician
- • Welder
- • Steel Fixer
- • Tile Layer
Domestic Work
- • Housemaid
- • Driver
- • Cook
- • Gardener
- • Nanny
- • Cleaner
Industrial
- • Factory Worker
- • Machine Operator
- • Oil & Gas Technician
- • Pipeline Worker
Hospitality
- • Cook
- • Kitchen Helper
- • Waiter
- • Hotel Housekeeping
Agriculture
- • Farm Worker
- • Irrigation Technician
- • Poultry Worker
Healthcare
- • Nurse
- • Nursing Aide
- • Lab Technician
- • Physiotherapist
UAE
In-Demand Occupations / Golden Visa List — Ministry of Human Resources (MOHRE)
Benefit: Green Visa for skilled workers — self-sponsored, no employer tie. Golden Visa for specialists (10 years)
Update Frequency: Ongoing — market-driven
Construction
- • Civil Engineer
- • Surveyor
- • Welder
- • Electrician
- • Plumber
- • Crane Operator
- • General Laborer
IT & Tech
- • Software Developer
- • Data Scientist
- • AI Engineer
- • Cybersecurity Specialist
- • Cloud Architect
Healthcare
- • Doctor
- • Nurse
- • Pharmacist
- • Dentist
- • Medical Technician
Hospitality
- • Chef
- • Hotel Manager
- • Waiter
- • Housekeeping Supervisor
Retail & Services
- • Sales Associate
- • Cashier
- • Customer Service
- • Security Guard
- • Cleaner
Transport
- • Taxi Driver
- • Truck Driver
- • Delivery Driver
- • Heavy Equipment Operator
Singapore
Shortage Occupation List (SOL) — Ministry of Manpower (MOM)
Benefit: SOL occupations get bonus points for EP applications and relaxed COMPASS criteria
Update Frequency: Introduced 2024, updated periodically
Healthcare
- • Registered Nurse
- • Physiotherapist
- • Occupational Therapist
- • Radiographer
IT
- • AI Engineer
- • Product Manager (Tech)
- • Software Engineer
- • DevOps Engineer
- • Data Engineer
Engineering
- • Process Engineer
- • Electrical Engineer
- • Mechanical Engineer
Maritime
- • Marine Engineer
- • Naval Architect
- • Ship Surveyor
Construction
- • Structural Engineer
- • Quantity Surveyor
- • Project Manager
Finance
- • Actuary
- • Risk Analyst
- • Compliance Officer
Malaysia
Approved Sectors for Foreign Workers — Ministry of Human Resources
Benefit: Large quota allocations for Bangladesh — one of the biggest corridors for BD workers
Update Frequency: Government-to-government agreements updated periodically
Manufacturing
- • Electronics Assembly
- • Garment Worker
- • Furniture Worker
- • Rubber Products
- • Plastic Products
Plantation
- • Palm Oil Worker
- • Rubber Tapper
- • Plantation Laborer
Construction
- • General Construction
- • Reinforcement Worker
- • Scaffolder
- • Carpenter
- • Painter
Agriculture
- • Farm Worker
- • Vegetable Cultivation
- • Fruit Farming
Services
- • Cleaner
- • Restaurant Worker
- • Retail Assistant
No matching occupations found. Try a different search term.
Top 10 Most In-Demand Occupations Globally
These occupations appear on shortage lists in the most countries. If you have experience in any of these, you have the widest range of destination options.
Welder
14 countriesEUR 1,200-4,000/mo
Germany, Poland, Italy, Romania, Czech Republic, Croatia, Japan, South Korea, Canada, Australia, UAE, Saudi, Singapore, Hungary
Electrician
14 countriesEUR 1,500-4,500/mo
Germany, Poland, Italy, Romania, Czech Republic, Croatia, Canada, Australia, NZ, Japan, UAE, Saudi, Portugal, Hungary
Registered Nurse
12 countriesEUR 2,000-5,000/mo
Germany, Canada, Australia, NZ, UK, Japan, Saudi, UAE, Singapore, Italy, Poland, South Africa
Plumber
12 countriesEUR 1,300-4,000/mo
Germany, Poland, Italy, Czech Republic, Croatia, Canada, Australia, NZ, Japan, Portugal, Romania, Hungary
Truck Driver
11 countriesEUR 1,500-3,500/mo
Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Croatia, Canada, Australia, Romania, Hungary, UAE, Saudi, Portugal
Software Developer
10 countriesEUR 3,000-7,000/mo
Germany, Canada, Australia, NZ, Singapore, UAE, Czech Republic, Poland, Portugal, South Africa
Carpenter
10 countriesEUR 1,200-3,500/mo
Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Croatia, Canada, Australia, NZ, Japan, Romania, Portugal
Chef / Cook
10 countriesEUR 1,200-3,000/mo
Germany, Italy, Portugal, Croatia, Canada, Australia, Japan, UAE, Saudi, Hungary
Caregiver
9 countriesEUR 1,000-3,000/mo
Germany, Italy, Canada, Australia, Japan, Poland, Czech Republic, Saudi, Hungary
Construction Worker
15 countriesEUR 800-3,000/mo
Nearly all countries — most universal shortage occupation worldwide
Best Shortage Matches for Bangladeshi Workers
Based on the skills most common among Bangladeshi overseas workers and actual hiring patterns, these are the strongest matches.
| Your Skill | Best Countries | Expected Salary | Visa Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welding (MIG/TIG/Arc) | Poland, Romania, Croatia, Germany | EUR 1,200-3,500/mo | Easy-Medium |
| General Construction | Romania, Poland, Hungary, Croatia | EUR 800-2,000/mo | Easy |
| Electrician | Germany, Czech Republic, Croatia | EUR 1,500-3,500/mo | Medium |
| Garment/Textile | Romania, Hungary, Portugal | EUR 700-1,200/mo | Easy |
| Driving (Truck/Bus) | Poland, Germany, Czech Republic | EUR 1,500-3,000/mo | Medium (license conversion) |
| Farming/Agriculture | Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania | EUR 800-1,500/mo | Easy (seasonal) |
| Cooking/Chef | Italy, Germany, Croatia, Portugal | EUR 1,200-2,500/mo | Medium |
| Nursing/Caregiving | Germany, Italy, Canada, Japan | EUR 2,000-3,500/mo | Medium (requires training) |
| IT/Software | Germany, Canada, Australia, Singapore | EUR 3,000-6,000/mo | Medium-Hard |
| Meat/Fish Processing | Poland, Romania, Italy, S. Korea | EUR 900-1,800/mo | Easy |
If you found countries that need your skills, the next step is to build your CV highlighting those skills, check our verified employers in those countries, and use the Skills Gap Analyzer to see what additional qualifications you might need.
