Australia still short of 279 occupations as trades and engineering gaps hold

Shortage list eases but trades stay tight

Almost half of all technician and trade occupations assessed were in shortage. More than a third of professional occupations still struggled to attract enough workers.

The easing headline does not mean hiring is easy. Employers in healthcare, construction, engineering and telecommunications still face gaps. For workers and migrants, the list still marks where training and visa pathways matter.

More than 120 occupations have been in shortage every year since 2021. Technicians and trades make up more than half of those long-running gaps, and professionals more than a third. The list names nurses, teachers, early childhood educators, engineers, ICT professionals and chefs among the roles still short. A slower labour market has not made it easier for employers to find people with the right qualifications and experience, the report found.

Employers say training and retention lag

A looser market overall does not help the builder who cannot find a qualified tradie, Employment Hero managing director James Keene said. Nor does it help the clinic that cannot fill a shift.

Keene said fixing training will take time. Holding onto experienced people and passing on what they know is something employers can start on tomorrow, he said. Manufacturers face simultaneous increases in energy, labour, materials, compliance and financing costs, GoZero Group chairman and managing director Stephen Cartwright told Australian Manufacturing. He said modern bus manufacturing needs electricians, welders, fabricators, mechanics, engineers, automation specialists and workers with software, controls and high-voltage electrical expertise. Cartwright called apprenticeships, traineeships and cadetships essential to building the next generation of manufacturing workers. He acknowledged the upfront cost is hard for businesses already under financial pressure.

Migration fills some gaps

Recent migrants made up 3.5% of Australia's workforce in 2007. That share grew to 6% in 2026, according to Australian Industry Group analysis of Australian Bureau of Statistics data. Almost 58% of recent migrants hold a university qualification, against 32.9% of Australian-born workers.

Recent migrants account for 9.3% of carers and 6.5% of plant operators. They also make up 6.3% of health professionals and 4.8% of automotive trades. Australian Industry Group chief executive Innes Willox said it is critical that Australia maintains its skilled migration pathways. Without migrants, he said, the country could not deliver the services and goods the community expects.

Regional mining restarts add pressure

Queensland's North West Minerals Province holds an estimated $680 billion in resources. About 85 critical minerals projects are under way there.

AIC Mines has secured a binding agreement to acquire the Mt Cuthbert copper project. 29Metals expects to restart Capricorn Copper Mine by the end of the year. The Australian Resources and Energy Employer Association forecasts the mining industry will need 24,000 new workers by 2027. Queensland Resources Council director of workforce strategy and capability Karina Lee Jones said miners are competing with major infrastructure projects for similar skills. That includes public construction linked to the Olympic Games, she said.

What happens next

29Metals expects operations at Capricorn Copper Mine near Mount Isa to resume by the end of the year. AIC Mines' binding agreement to acquire Mt Cuthbert adds another restart to the regional hiring pipeline. The forecast for 2027 sets the scale for recruitment and apprenticeship efforts. Mining will need 24,000 new workers.