Occupational barometer: Labour shortage in many occupations

At the beginning of 2019, labour shortage was experienced in 54 occupations in Finland, compared to 39 a year earlier. Two years ago, only 24 of the more than 200 occupations covered by the barometer were affected by labour shortage. Similarly, the number of occupations with a surplus of job seekers has decreased.

The number of occupations with a surplus of job seekers was 21 compared with 29 a year before. The reduction is not as significant as before. This information is available in the Occupational Barometer published by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment on 28 March 2019. The information is based on estimates provided by Employment and Economic Development Offices.

Labour shortage increasingly common in service professions

According to the occupational barometer, there is a major shortage of skilled speech therapists and office and institutional cleaning staff. There have been some changes in occupations with greatest labour shortage. Only one construction industry occupation remains on the list: construction supervisor. A year ago, there was a tremendous shortage for construction supervisors, and the top 15 in-demand occupations also included other construction industry occupations such as civil engineers, concrete placers and finishers, and other construction workers.

Health care and social welfare occupations is a growing segment in the top 15 list of in-demand occupations.  The health care and social welfare sector accounts for half of the occupations in the top 15 list. In addition to speech therapists, there is significant demand for chief medical officers, medical specialists and general practitioners. Employment and Economic Development Offices estimate that in the near future, demand will grow in the following occupational groups: cleaners, restaurant workers, home care assistants, building painters and earthmoving machinery operators.

Surplus of job seekers for secretarial work and creative industries

Very few changes have occurred in the top 15 list of occupations with a surplus of job seekers. General secretarial occupations continue to show labour surplus. New on the top 15 list of surplus occupations are product and clothing designers, library workers and special needs assistants.

Occupations with labour surplus include many creative industry occupations such as product designers and marketing and general communications specialists. For a long time, there was a surplus of furniture makers and woodworking-machine tool operators, but now the situation has changed, and the demand and supply of labour are estimated to be in balance.

In a number of occupations, labour shortage has grown significantly in the past two years. Even if the national labour market outlook appears balanced, there are significant regional variations.  Ostrobothnia, Southwest Finland and Uusimaa account for the proportionally largest number of occupations with labour shortage. Meanwhile, North Karelia, Central Finland and Pirkanmaa account for the largest number of occupations with labour surplus. The next estimate of employment outlook in different occupations will be prepared in autumn 2019.

Full occupational barometer estimates can be found at www.ammattibarometri.fi

The labour market outlook provided by the Employment and Economic Development Offices for various occupations by region is available on the website.

Inquiries:

Mika Tuomaala, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 29 504 8450, mika.tuomaala(at)tem.fi