Australia Jobs for Foreigners: 279 Occupations in Shortage
Australia jobs for foreigners: 279 occupations are still in national shortage in 2026, including nurses, teachers, engineers and many skilled trades.
AustraliaIn brief
- Jobs and Skills Australia found 279 occupations in national shortage in 2026.
- That is 27% of all occupations assessed, down from 29% in 2025 and a peak of 36% in 2023.
- Almost half of technician and trade occupations are in shortage, and more than a third of professional occupations.
- More than 120 occupations have been in shortage every year since 2021.
| Country | Australia |
|---|---|
| Organization | Jobs and Skills Australia |
| Official source | 7NEWS – Jobs and Skills Australia 2026 Occupation Shortage List ✓ 7news.com.au |
Australia jobs for foreigners remain plentiful in key fields. New analysis from Jobs and Skills Australia shows 279 occupations are still in national shortage in 2026. Employers continue to struggle to find nurses, teachers, tradespeople and childcare workers, even though overall shortages have eased a little.
How big is the shortage in 2026?
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Occupations in national shortage (2026) | 279 |
| Share of occupations assessed | 27% |
| Share in 2025 | 29% |
| Peak (2023) | 36% |
| Occupations in shortage every year since 2021 | More than 120 |
The government's latest Occupation Shortage List shows shortages are concentrated among professionals and trades. Almost half of all technician and trade occupations were assessed as in shortage, along with more than a third of professional occupations.
Which jobs are in shortage?
The occupations facing shortages include:
- Health: nurses and other health professionals
- Education: teachers and early childhood educators
- Engineering and ICT: engineers and ICT professionals
- Care: aged care and disability support workers
- Hospitality: chefs
- Trades: mechanics, telecommunications trades workers and many construction trades
Long-running gaps are in health care, construction, engineering, telecommunications and early childhood education. Technicians and trades workers make up more than half of the occupations that have been short every year since 2021.
Why do shortages continue?
Jobs and Skills Australia says it is not always a lack of people entering a profession. Common reasons include:
- Long training pipelines – for example, motor mechanics are held back mainly by training capacity
- Not enough suitably qualified applicants
- Staff leaving the profession (retention problems)
Employment Hero managing director James Keene said a looser job market overall does not help a builder who cannot find a qualified tradie or a clinic that cannot fill a shift. He suggested keeping older, experienced workers as a quick fix while new workers finish training.
How do I apply?
Search vacancies on Workforce Australia, the government's free jobs site, and on state health and education department careers pages. If you are overseas, check whether your occupation is on the shortage list and whether employers in that field offer visa sponsorship.
What it means for job seekers
- Check your occupation. Being on the shortage list means employers are actively struggling to hire.
- Get your skills recognised. Nurses, teachers and tradespeople usually need Australian registration or a skills assessment.
- Regional areas often hire faster. Shortages are frequently sharper outside the big cities.
Related: Australia jobs with visa sponsorship: sectors hiring in 2026.
More openings: all Australia jobs
Frequently asked questions
How many occupations are in shortage in Australia in 2026?
279 occupations, or 27% of those assessed, according to the Jobs and Skills Australia 2026 Occupation Shortage List.
Which jobs are most in demand in Australia?
Health professionals, teachers, engineers, ICT professionals, childcare educators, aged and disability carers, chefs, mechanics and construction trades.
Are worker shortages in Australia getting better?
Slightly. The share of occupations in shortage fell from 29% in 2025 to 27% in 2026, but many key jobs are still hard to fill.
Where can I search for jobs in Australia?
On Workforce Australia, the government's free jobs website, and on the official careers pages of employers and state health and education departments.
Apply only on the official site.
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