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The best jobs in Europe
22 jobs, scored on 14 conditions, based on the labour shortages reported by EURES in 2025 and the WEF Future of Jobs report.
Questions the analysis answers
- Which jobs are missing across Europe?
- Which jobs let you work in any EU country?
- Which are the hardest for AI to replace?
The ranking
22 positions scored on 14 conditions adapted to this topic. The scores are judgement based on the cited sources, with a rationale for each position. Conditions that cannot be assessed yet get 5 (neutral) in the score and do not count as met. The scores are frozen in the snapshot of 3 November 2026 (fingerprint in the .sha256 file).
Extended to 22 entries on 5 November 2026: the first 11 keep the same scores, and 11 new entries were added, with sources. The previous snapshot stays published: social-meserii-europa-2026-11-03.json.
| # | Name | Conditions | Score | Substance / form |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Electrician | 12/14 | 7.62 | Substance without form |
| 2 | Plumber | 12/14 | 7.48 | Substance without form |
| 3 | Cybersecurity specialist | 11/14 | 7.64 | Substance without form |
| 4 | General practitioner | 11/14 | 7.60 | Substance without form |
| 5 | Renewable-energy engineer | 11/14 | 7.50 | Substance without form |
| 6 | Nurse and care worker | 11/14 | 7.44 | Substance without form |
| 7 | Electric vehicle specialist | 11/14 | 7.04 | Substance without form |
| 8 | Specialist doctor | 10/14 | 7.68 | Substance without form |
| 9 | Health care assistant and home carer | 10/14 | 7.44 | Substance without form |
| 10 | Physiotherapist | 10/14 | 7.40 | Substance without form |
| 11 | Carpenter and joiner | 10/14 | 7.14 | Substance without form |
| 12 | Motor vehicle mechanic | 10/14 | 7.08 | Substance without form |
| 13 | Roofer | 10/14 | 7.00 | Substance being confirmed |
| 14 | Cook | 10/14 | 6.96 | Substance being confirmed |
| 15 | Welder | 10/14 | 6.82 | Substance being confirmed |
| 16 | FinTech engineer | 9/14 | 7.22 | Substance confirmed |
| 17 | Project manager | 9/14 | 7.04 | Substance without form |
| 18 | Teacher | 8/14 | 7.12 | Substance being confirmed |
| 19 | Data and AI specialist | 8/14 | 6.92 | Substance confirmed |
| 20 | Truck driver | 8/14 | 6.48 | Substance being confirmed |
| 21 | Waiter | 6/14 | 6.28 | Substance being confirmed |
| 22 | Software developer | 5/14 | 6.64 | Substance confirmed |
Each position, condition by condition
Electrician · 12/14 · score 7.62 · Substance without form
The green transition (solar panels, heat pumps, grids) creates demand for electricians across Europe, according to EURES.
| # | Condition | Score | In plain words |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Earnings | 7 | Earnings far above the national average. |
| C2 | Employer demand | 9 | Very high demand: employers cannot find people. |
| C3 | Future growth | 9 | Demand will grow strongly until 2030. |
| C4 | Resistance to AI | 9 | Hard for AI or robots to replace. |
| C5 | Training time | 8 | Short training. |
| C6 | Working conditions | 6 | Acceptable conditions. |
| C7 | Stability | 8 | Very stable. |
| C8 | EU mobility | 9 | In demand and recognised across the EU. |
| C9 | Social usefulness | 8 | Essential to others. |
| C10 | Ease of entry | 8 | Easy to get into. |
| C11 | Media (non-linear) | 8 | Balanced attention. |
| C12 | Pay trend | 7 | Wages are rising fast. |
| C13 | Crowding (inverse) | 8 | Few candidates. |
| C14 | Risks | 5 | A few risks. |
Sources: EURES (European Labour Authority): labour shortages and surpluses in Europe, 2025 report; World Economic Forum: Future of Jobs Report 2025
Plumber · 12/14 · score 7.48 · Substance without form
On the list of shortage trades linked to the green transition (EURES); short training and hard to automate.
| # | Condition | Score | In plain words |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Earnings | 7 | Earnings far above the national average. |
| C2 | Employer demand | 9 | Very high demand: employers cannot find people. |
| C3 | Future growth | 8 | Demand will grow strongly until 2030. |
| C4 | Resistance to AI | 9 | Hard for AI or robots to replace. |
| C5 | Training time | 8 | Short training. |
| C6 | Working conditions | 5 | Acceptable conditions. |
| C7 | Stability | 8 | Very stable. |
| C8 | EU mobility | 9 | In demand and recognised across the EU. |
| C9 | Social usefulness | 8 | Essential to others. |
| C10 | Ease of entry | 8 | Easy to get into. |
| C11 | Media (non-linear) | 8 | Balanced attention. |
| C12 | Pay trend | 7 | Wages are rising fast. |
| C13 | Crowding (inverse) | 8 | Few candidates. |
| C14 | Risks | 5 | A few risks. |
Sources: EURES (European Labour Authority): labour shortages and surpluses in Europe, 2025 report
Cybersecurity specialist · 11/14 · score 7.64 · Substance without form
Growing demand with cyberattacks and new European security rules; hard for AI to replace.
| # | Condition | Score | In plain words |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Earnings | 9 | Earnings far above the national average. |
| C2 | Employer demand | 8 | Very high demand: employers cannot find people. |
| C3 | Future growth | 9 | Demand will grow strongly until 2030. |
| C4 | Resistance to AI | 8 | Hard for AI or robots to replace. |
| C5 | Training time | 6 | Average training. |
| C6 | Working conditions | 8 | Good conditions. |
| C7 | Stability | 8 | Very stable. |
| C8 | EU mobility | 9 | In demand and recognised across the EU. |
| C9 | Social usefulness | 8 | Essential to others. |
| C10 | Ease of entry | 5 | Quite hard. |
| C11 | Media (non-linear) | 6 | Moderate attention. |
| C12 | Pay trend | 7 | Wages are rising fast. |
| C13 | Crowding (inverse) | 7 | Few candidates. |
| C14 | Risks | 7 | Low risks. |
General practitioner · 11/14 · score 7.60 · Substance without form
EURES separately analysed the shortage of general practitioners in 2025, one of the worst in Europe. Maximum stability, but very long training.
| # | Condition | Score | In plain words |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Earnings | 9 | Earnings far above the national average. |
| C2 | Employer demand | 10 | Very high demand: employers cannot find people. |
| C3 | Future growth | 8 | Demand will grow strongly until 2030. |
| C4 | Resistance to AI | 9 | Hard for AI or robots to replace. |
| C5 | Training time | 2 | Very long training. |
| C6 | Working conditions | 6 | Acceptable conditions. |
| C7 | Stability | 10 | Very stable. |
| C8 | EU mobility | 9 | In demand and recognised across the EU. |
| C9 | Social usefulness | 10 | Essential to others. |
| C10 | Ease of entry | 3 | Very hard to get into. |
| C11 | Media (non-linear) | 7 | Balanced attention. |
| C12 | Pay trend | 7 | Wages are rising fast. |
| C13 | Crowding (inverse) | 7 | Few candidates. |
| C14 | Risks | 7 | Low risks. |
Renewable-energy engineer · 11/14 · score 7.50 · Substance without form
Europe is investing heavily in renewable energy and grids; the WEF lists renewable-energy specialists among growing jobs.
| # | Condition | Score | In plain words |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Earnings | 8 | Earnings far above the national average. |
| C2 | Employer demand | 8 | Very high demand: employers cannot find people. |
| C3 | Future growth | 9 | Demand will grow strongly until 2030. |
| C4 | Resistance to AI | 8 | Hard for AI or robots to replace. |
| C5 | Training time | 5 | Average training. |
| C6 | Working conditions | 7 | Good conditions. |
| C7 | Stability | 8 | Very stable. |
| C8 | EU mobility | 9 | In demand and recognised across the EU. |
| C9 | Social usefulness | 9 | Essential to others. |
| C10 | Ease of entry | 6 | Quite hard. |
| C11 | Media (non-linear) | 7 | Balanced attention. |
| C12 | Pay trend | 7 | Wages are rising fast. |
| C13 | Crowding (inverse) | 8 | Few candidates. |
| C14 | Risks | 6 | A few risks. |
Nurse and care worker · 11/14 · score 7.44 · Substance without form
A persistent shortage across Europe, in a sector with a surplus in no country; population ageing raises demand.
| # | Condition | Score | In plain words |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Earnings | 6 | Earnings close to the average. |
| C2 | Employer demand | 10 | Very high demand: employers cannot find people. |
| C3 | Future growth | 9 | Demand will grow strongly until 2030. |
| C4 | Resistance to AI | 9 | Hard for AI or robots to replace. |
| C5 | Training time | 7 | Short training. |
| C6 | Working conditions | 4 | Hard conditions. |
| C7 | Stability | 9 | Very stable. |
| C8 | EU mobility | 9 | In demand and recognised across the EU. |
| C9 | Social usefulness | 10 | Essential to others. |
| C10 | Ease of entry | 8 | Easy to get into. |
| C11 | Media (non-linear) | 7 | Balanced attention. |
| C12 | Pay trend | 7 | Wages are rising fast. |
| C13 | Crowding (inverse) | 8 | Few candidates. |
| C14 | Risks | 5 | A few risks. |
Sources: EURES (European Labour Authority): labour shortages and surpluses in Europe, 2025 report; World Economic Forum: Future of Jobs Report 2025
Electric vehicle specialist · 11/14 · score 7.04 · Substance without form
Seventh among the fastest-growing jobs in the WEF report; the European car industry is switching to electric, but is under pressure from Chinese competition.
| # | Condition | Score | In plain words |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Earnings | 8 | Earnings far above the national average. |
| C2 | Employer demand | 8 | Very high demand: employers cannot find people. |
| C3 | Future growth | 9 | Demand will grow strongly until 2030. |
| C4 | Resistance to AI | 8 | Hard for AI or robots to replace. |
| C5 | Training time | 4 | Very long training. |
| C6 | Working conditions | 7 | Good conditions. |
| C7 | Stability | 7 | Very stable. |
| C8 | EU mobility | 9 | In demand and recognised across the EU. |
| C9 | Social usefulness | 7 | Essential to others. |
| C10 | Ease of entry | 5 | Quite hard. |
| C11 | Media (non-linear) | 7 | Balanced attention. |
| C12 | Pay trend | 7 | Wages are rising fast. |
| C13 | Crowding (inverse) | 7 | Few candidates. |
| C14 | Risks | 5 | A few risks. |
Sources: World Economic Forum: Future of Jobs 2025, the jobs outlook chapter; EU Digital Skills Platform: the 10 fastest-growing jobs to 2030 (WEF)
Specialist doctor · 10/14 · score 7.68 · Substance without form
A shortage of specialist doctors in many European countries, including Bulgaria, Italy and the Netherlands, according to EURES; no European country has a surplus in health. Very long training.
| # | Condition | Score | In plain words |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Earnings | 10 | Earnings far above the national average. |
| C2 | Employer demand | 10 | Very high demand: employers cannot find people. |
| C3 | Future growth | 8 | Demand will grow strongly until 2030. |
| C4 | Resistance to AI | 9 | Hard for AI or robots to replace. |
| C5 | Training time | 2 | Very long training. |
| C6 | Working conditions | 6 | Acceptable conditions. |
| C7 | Stability | 10 | Very stable. |
| C8 | EU mobility | 9 | In demand and recognised across the EU. |
| C9 | Social usefulness | 10 | Essential to others. |
| C10 | Ease of entry | 3 | Very hard to get into. |
| C11 | Media (non-linear) | 7 | Balanced attention. |
| C12 | Pay trend | 7 | Wages are rising fast. |
| C13 | Crowding (inverse) | 7 | Few candidates. |
| C14 | Risks | 6 | A few risks. |
Sources: EURES (European Labour Authority): labour shortages and surpluses in Europe, 2025 report
Health care assistant and home carer · 10/14 · score 7.44 · Substance without form
EURES devoted a separate 2025 analysis to the shortage of health care assistants; health and care have no staff surplus in any country. Modestly paid.
| # | Condition | Score | In plain words |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Earnings | 4 | Earnings below the national average. |
| C2 | Employer demand | 10 | Very high demand: employers cannot find people. |
| C3 | Future growth | 9 | Demand will grow strongly until 2030. |
| C4 | Resistance to AI | 10 | Hard for AI or robots to replace. |
| C5 | Training time | 9 | Short training. |
| C6 | Working conditions | 4 | Hard conditions. |
| C7 | Stability | 9 | Very stable. |
| C8 | EU mobility | 9 | In demand and recognised across the EU. |
| C9 | Social usefulness | 10 | Essential to others. |
| C10 | Ease of entry | 9 | Easy to get into. |
| C11 | Media (non-linear) | 8 | Balanced attention. |
| C12 | Pay trend | 6 | Wages are rising moderately. |
| C13 | Crowding (inverse) | 9 | Few candidates. |
| C14 | Risks | 5 | A few risks. |
Physiotherapist · 10/14 · score 7.40 · Substance without form
One of the five health occupations analysed separately in the 2025 EURES report because of shortages. Hard to replace with AI, with demand rising as the population ages.
| # | Condition | Score | In plain words |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Earnings | 6 | Earnings close to the average. |
| C2 | Employer demand | 9 | Very high demand: employers cannot find people. |
| C3 | Future growth | 8 | Demand will grow strongly until 2030. |
| C4 | Resistance to AI | 9 | Hard for AI or robots to replace. |
| C5 | Training time | 5 | Average training. |
| C6 | Working conditions | 7 | Good conditions. |
| C7 | Stability | 9 | Very stable. |
| C8 | EU mobility | 8 | In demand and recognised across the EU. |
| C9 | Social usefulness | 9 | Essential to others. |
| C10 | Ease of entry | 6 | Quite hard. |
| C11 | Media (non-linear) | 7 | Balanced attention. |
| C12 | Pay trend | 6 | Wages are rising moderately. |
| C13 | Crowding (inverse) | 8 | Few candidates. |
| C14 | Risks | 8 | Low risks. |
Carpenter and joiner · 10/14 · score 7.14 · Substance without form
Construction trades have topped Europe’s shortage list for years (EURES). Hard to automate, but heavy physical work.
| # | Condition | Score | In plain words |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Earnings | 6 | Earnings close to the average. |
| C2 | Employer demand | 9 | Very high demand: employers cannot find people. |
| C3 | Future growth | 7 | Demand will grow strongly until 2030. |
| C4 | Resistance to AI | 9 | Hard for AI or robots to replace. |
| C5 | Training time | 8 | Short training. |
| C6 | Working conditions | 5 | Acceptable conditions. |
| C7 | Stability | 8 | Very stable. |
| C8 | EU mobility | 9 | In demand and recognised across the EU. |
| C9 | Social usefulness | 7 | Essential to others. |
| C10 | Ease of entry | 8 | Easy to get into. |
| C11 | Media (non-linear) | 8 | Balanced attention. |
| C12 | Pay trend | 6 | Wages are rising moderately. |
| C13 | Crowding (inverse) | 8 | Few candidates. |
| C14 | Risks | 5 | A few risks. |
Sources: EURES: the page of reports on labour shortages and surpluses; European Labour Authority: occupations short in at least three quarters of countries (2024 report)
Motor vehicle mechanic · 10/14 · score 7.08 · Substance without form
A shortage of mechanics reported in many European countries; the shift to electric cars requires retraining, but also creates demand for those who do it.
| # | Condition | Score | In plain words |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Earnings | 6 | Earnings close to the average. |
| C2 | Employer demand | 9 | Very high demand: employers cannot find people. |
| C3 | Future growth | 7 | Demand will grow strongly until 2030. |
| C4 | Resistance to AI | 8 | Hard for AI or robots to replace. |
| C5 | Training time | 8 | Short training. |
| C6 | Working conditions | 5 | Acceptable conditions. |
| C7 | Stability | 8 | Very stable. |
| C8 | EU mobility | 9 | In demand and recognised across the EU. |
| C9 | Social usefulness | 7 | Essential to others. |
| C10 | Ease of entry | 8 | Easy to get into. |
| C11 | Media (non-linear) | 8 | Balanced attention. |
| C12 | Pay trend | 6 | Wages are rising moderately. |
| C13 | Crowding (inverse) | 7 | Few candidates. |
| C14 | Risks | 6 | A few risks. |
Sources: EURES: the page of reports on labour shortages and surpluses
Roofer · 10/14 · score 7.00 · Substance being confirmed
Among the occupations with the most severe shortages in the 2023 EURES report; renovating buildings for energy efficiency raises demand. High accident risk.
| # | Condition | Score | In plain words |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Earnings | 6 | Earnings close to the average. |
| C2 | Employer demand | 10 | Very high demand: employers cannot find people. |
| C3 | Future growth | 7 | Demand will grow strongly until 2030. |
| C4 | Resistance to AI | 9 | Hard for AI or robots to replace. |
| C5 | Training time | 8 | Short training. |
| C6 | Working conditions | 3 | Hard conditions. |
| C7 | Stability | 7 | Very stable. |
| C8 | EU mobility | 9 | In demand and recognised across the EU. |
| C9 | Social usefulness | 7 | Essential to others. |
| C10 | Ease of entry | 9 | Easy to get into. |
| C11 | Media (non-linear) | 8 | Balanced attention. |
| C12 | Pay trend | 6 | Wages are rising moderately. |
| C13 | Crowding (inverse) | 9 | Few candidates. |
| C14 | Risks | 4 | High risks. |
Sources: EURES: the page of reports on labour shortages and surpluses
Cook · 10/14 · score 6.96 · Substance being confirmed
Among the occupations short in at least three quarters of European countries, according to EURES. Short training and jobs across Europe; long hours and weekend work.
| # | Condition | Score | In plain words |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Earnings | 5 | Earnings close to the average. |
| C2 | Employer demand | 10 | Very high demand: employers cannot find people. |
| C3 | Future growth | 7 | Demand will grow strongly until 2030. |
| C4 | Resistance to AI | 9 | Hard for AI or robots to replace. |
| C5 | Training time | 8 | Short training. |
| C6 | Working conditions | 4 | Hard conditions. |
| C7 | Stability | 7 | Very stable. |
| C8 | EU mobility | 9 | In demand and recognised across the EU. |
| C9 | Social usefulness | 7 | Essential to others. |
| C10 | Ease of entry | 9 | Easy to get into. |
| C11 | Media (non-linear) | 8 | Balanced attention. |
| C12 | Pay trend | 6 | Wages are rising moderately. |
| C13 | Crowding (inverse) | 7 | Few candidates. |
| C14 | Risks | 6 | A few risks. |
Sources: EURES: labour shortages and surpluses in Europe (July 2025); European Labour Authority: occupations short in at least three quarters of countries (2024 report)
Welder · 10/14 · score 6.82 · Substance being confirmed
A shortage of welders reported in several countries (for example, Bulgaria, Italy, the Netherlands); heavy work with accident risk.
| # | Condition | Score | In plain words |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Earnings | 6 | Earnings close to the average. |
| C2 | Employer demand | 9 | Very high demand: employers cannot find people. |
| C3 | Future growth | 7 | Demand will grow strongly until 2030. |
| C4 | Resistance to AI | 8 | Hard for AI or robots to replace. |
| C5 | Training time | 8 | Short training. |
| C6 | Working conditions | 4 | Hard conditions. |
| C7 | Stability | 7 | Very stable. |
| C8 | EU mobility | 9 | In demand and recognised across the EU. |
| C9 | Social usefulness | 7 | Essential to others. |
| C10 | Ease of entry | 8 | Easy to get into. |
| C11 | Media (non-linear) | 8 | Balanced attention. |
| C12 | Pay trend | 6 | Wages are rising moderately. |
| C13 | Crowding (inverse) | 8 | Few candidates. |
| C14 | Risks | 4 | High risks. |
Sources: EURES (European Labour Authority): labour shortages and surpluses in Europe, 2025 report
FinTech engineer · 9/14 · score 7.22 · Substance confirmed
The second fastest-growing job in the WEF report; Europe has strong fintech hubs (London, Amsterdam, Berlin, Vilnius). Exposed to finance cycles.
| # | Condition | Score | In plain words |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Earnings | 9 | Earnings far above the national average. |
| C2 | Employer demand | 8 | Very high demand: employers cannot find people. |
| C3 | Future growth | 10 | Demand will grow strongly until 2030. |
| C4 | Resistance to AI | 7 | Hard for AI or robots to replace. |
| C5 | Training time | 5 | Average training. |
| C6 | Working conditions | 8 | Good conditions. |
| C7 | Stability | 7 | Very stable. |
| C8 | EU mobility | 9 | In demand and recognised across the EU. |
| C9 | Social usefulness | 7 | Essential to others. |
| C10 | Ease of entry | 5 | Quite hard. |
| C11 | Media (non-linear) | 5 | Moderate attention. |
| C12 | Pay trend | 8 | Wages are rising fast. |
| C13 | Crowding (inverse) | 5 | Moderate competition. |
| C14 | Risks | 6 | A few risks. |
Sources: World Economic Forum: Future of Jobs 2025, the jobs outlook chapter; EU Digital Skills Platform: the 10 fastest-growing jobs to 2030 (WEF)
Project manager · 9/14 · score 7.04 · Substance without form
Among the jobs with the largest absolute growth in the WEF report; EU funds and the energy transition require many project managers. The role needs experience.
| # | Condition | Score | In plain words |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Earnings | 8 | Earnings far above the national average. |
| C2 | Employer demand | 8 | Very high demand: employers cannot find people. |
| C3 | Future growth | 8 | Demand will grow strongly until 2030. |
| C4 | Resistance to AI | 7 | Hard for AI or robots to replace. |
| C5 | Training time | 6 | Average training. |
| C6 | Working conditions | 6 | Acceptable conditions. |
| C7 | Stability | 7 | Very stable. |
| C8 | EU mobility | 9 | In demand and recognised across the EU. |
| C9 | Social usefulness | 7 | Essential to others. |
| C10 | Ease of entry | 6 | Quite hard. |
| C11 | Media (non-linear) | 7 | Balanced attention. |
| C12 | Pay trend | 6 | Wages are rising moderately. |
| C13 | Crowding (inverse) | 6 | Moderate competition. |
| C14 | Risks | 7 | Low risks. |
Sources: World Economic Forum: Future of Jobs 2025, the jobs outlook chapter
Teacher · 8/14 · score 7.12 · Substance being confirmed
Many European countries lack teachers, and the WEF expects jobs in education to grow; recognition of the diploma depends on the country.
| # | Condition | Score | In plain words |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Earnings | 6 | Earnings close to the average. |
| C2 | Employer demand | 8 | Very high demand: employers cannot find people. |
| C3 | Future growth | 7 | Demand will grow strongly until 2030. |
| C4 | Resistance to AI | 9 | Hard for AI or robots to replace. |
| C5 | Training time | 4 | Very long training. |
| C6 | Working conditions | 6 | Acceptable conditions. |
| C7 | Stability | 9 | Very stable. |
| C8 | EU mobility | 6 | Partly recognised. |
| C9 | Social usefulness | 10 | Essential to others. |
| C10 | Ease of entry | 6 | Quite hard. |
| C11 | Media (non-linear) | 7 | Balanced attention. |
| C12 | Pay trend | 6 | Wages are rising moderately. |
| C13 | Crowding (inverse) | 8 | Few candidates. |
| C14 | Risks | 8 | Low risks. |
Data and AI specialist · 8/14 · score 6.92 · Substance confirmed
The top two fastest-growing jobs in the WEF 2025 report; long training and very high media attention.
| # | Condition | Score | In plain words |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Earnings | 9 | Earnings far above the national average. |
| C2 | Employer demand | 7 | Very high demand: employers cannot find people. |
| C3 | Future growth | 10 | Demand will grow strongly until 2030. |
| C4 | Resistance to AI | 7 | Hard for AI or robots to replace. |
| C5 | Training time | 5 | Average training. |
| C6 | Working conditions | 8 | Good conditions. |
| C7 | Stability | 6 | Average stability. |
| C8 | EU mobility | 9 | In demand and recognised across the EU. |
| C9 | Social usefulness | 6 | Average social impact. |
| C10 | Ease of entry | 4 | Very hard to get into. |
| C11 | Media (non-linear) | 4 | A fashionable job: many choose it. |
| C12 | Pay trend | 7 | Wages are rising fast. |
| C13 | Crowding (inverse) | 5 | Moderate competition. |
| C14 | Risks | 7 | Low risks. |
Truck driver · 8/14 · score 6.48 · Substance being confirmed
A shortage of drivers in many European countries and one of the jobs with the largest absolute growth in the WEF report; much time away from home.
| # | Condition | Score | In plain words |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Earnings | 6 | Earnings close to the average. |
| C2 | Employer demand | 9 | Very high demand: employers cannot find people. |
| C3 | Future growth | 7 | Demand will grow strongly until 2030. |
| C4 | Resistance to AI | 5 | Partly automatable. |
| C5 | Training time | 9 | Short training. |
| C6 | Working conditions | 3 | Hard conditions. |
| C7 | Stability | 6 | Average stability. |
| C8 | EU mobility | 9 | In demand and recognised across the EU. |
| C9 | Social usefulness | 7 | Essential to others. |
| C10 | Ease of entry | 9 | Easy to get into. |
| C11 | Media (non-linear) | 8 | Balanced attention. |
| C12 | Pay trend | 6 | Wages are rising moderately. |
| C13 | Crowding (inverse) | 7 | Few candidates. |
| C14 | Risks | 4 | High risks. |
Waiter · 6/14 · score 6.28 · Substance being confirmed
Among the occupations with the most severe shortages in Europe (EURES). Very easy to enter and mobile, but poorly paid and seasonal.
| # | Condition | Score | In plain words |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Earnings | 3 | Earnings below the national average. |
| C2 | Employer demand | 10 | Very high demand: employers cannot find people. |
| C3 | Future growth | 6 | Demand stays stable. |
| C4 | Resistance to AI | 8 | Hard for AI or robots to replace. |
| C5 | Training time | 10 | Short training. |
| C6 | Working conditions | 4 | Hard conditions. |
| C7 | Stability | 5 | Average stability. |
| C8 | EU mobility | 9 | In demand and recognised across the EU. |
| C9 | Social usefulness | 5 | Average social impact. |
| C10 | Ease of entry | 10 | Easy to get into. |
| C11 | Media (non-linear) | 8 | Balanced attention. |
| C12 | Pay trend | 5 | Wages are rising moderately. |
| C13 | Crowding (inverse) | 6 | Moderate competition. |
| C14 | Risks | 6 | A few risks. |
Sources: EURES: the page of reports on labour shortages and surpluses
Software developer · 5/14 · score 6.64 · Substance confirmed
Among the WEF’s fast-growing jobs, with high pay across Europe; strong competition at entry level and pressure from AI tools.
| # | Condition | Score | In plain words |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Earnings | 9 | Earnings far above the national average. |
| C2 | Employer demand | 6 | Normal demand. |
| C3 | Future growth | 9 | Demand will grow strongly until 2030. |
| C4 | Resistance to AI | 5 | Partly automatable. |
| C5 | Training time | 6 | Average training. |
| C6 | Working conditions | 8 | Good conditions. |
| C7 | Stability | 6 | Average stability. |
| C8 | EU mobility | 9 | In demand and recognised across the EU. |
| C9 | Social usefulness | 6 | Average social impact. |
| C10 | Ease of entry | 5 | Quite hard. |
| C11 | Media (non-linear) | 4 | A fashionable job: many choose it. |
| C12 | Pay trend | 6 | Wages are rising moderately. |
| C13 | Crowding (inverse) | 4 | Very many candidates. |
| C14 | Risks | 7 | Low risks. |
The data behind the scores
The analysis’s sources
- EURES (European Labour Authority): labour shortages and surpluses in Europe, 2025 report
- World Economic Forum: Future of Jobs Report 2025
- European Labour Authority: the 2025 EURES report (analyses of physiotherapists, health care assistants, nurses)
- World Economic Forum: Future of Jobs 2025, the jobs outlook chapter
- EU Digital Skills Platform: the 10 fastest-growing jobs to 2030 (WEF)
- EURES: the page of reports on labour shortages and surpluses
- European Labour Authority: occupations short in at least three quarters of countries (2024 report)
- EURES: labour shortages and surpluses in Europe (July 2025)
What the analysis shows
Electrician meets the most conditions (12 of 14). The ranking rewards substance: real results and real opportunities, weighed against how hard and how expensive they are to reach, not only fame.
The rankings are indicative and rest on public data as of the snapshot date. The right choice depends on each person’s situation.
How we apply the 14 conditions in this domain
The same algorithm as for crypto, companies and commodities: each condition gets a score from 0 to 10 and is met from 7. The weights are identical in every domain; only what we measure in practice changes.
| # | Condition | What we measure | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Earnings | Pay compared with the national average. | 16% |
| C2 | Employer demand | Vacancies and staff shortages. | 6% |
| C3 | Future growth | Expected demand until 2030 (WEF). | 6% |
| C4 | Resistance to AI | How hard it is to automate. | 8% |
| C5 | Training time | How long it takes to qualify (shorter = better). | 6% |
| C6 | Working conditions | Schedule, physical effort, stress. | 8% |
| C7 | Stability | Job security. | 8% |
| C8 | EU mobility | The qualification is recognised and in demand in other countries. | 4% |
| C9 | Social usefulness | How much it matters to others. | 6% |
| C10 | Ease of entry | How easy it is to enter the trade. | 6% |
| C11 | Media (non-linear) | Balanced attention; fashionable jobs attract too many. | 6% |
| C12 | Pay trend | Wages are rising or stagnating. | 6% |
| C13 | Crowding (inverse) | How many choose the same job. | 6% |
| C14 | Risks | Accidents, occupational illness, volatility. | 8% |
Questions about the reasoning
Do you disagree with a score, or want to know why an asset is where it is? Ask. We answer with the weekly update, with sources, by email and, if you agree, here on the page.
Answered questions
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Sources
The sources will be listed here together with the data.