Where the jobs are in European countries

The clearest official signal of where employers are short of staff is the occupational barometer (Poklicni barometer) of the Employment Service of Slovenia (ESS). For 2026 it lists, among others, these occupations in shortage:

• health and care – doctors, nursing professionals, physiotherapists, personal assistants, social care workers,
• education – primary and secondary school teachers, school counsellors, kindergarten teachers and their assistants,
• engineering – civil, mechanical, electrical and electronics engineers; also veterinarians,
• business and social services – specialists in logistics, human resources, social work, accounting and audit,
• trades, transport and tourism – roofers and carpenters, heavy truck drivers, cooks and waiters, mail sorters and carriers.

In the ESS employer survey from spring 2026 (Napovednik zaposlovanja), 44.9% of employers said they had struggled to find suitable candidates in the previous six months – most often in healthcare and social services, hospitality and education. For the second half of 2026 employers planned to hire mainly workers for simple jobs in manufacturing, sales staff, heavy truck drivers, welders and cleaners.

For graduates, the shortage list points to health, education, engineering and business services. For most of these jobs, Slovenian is essential.