How to find out what occupations are in demand and in skill shortage in Australia?

27 Jan How to find out what occupations are in demand and in skill shortage in Australia?

Every year, skilled workers planning migration to Australia via employer-sponsored visas—such as the Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa or the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (Direct Entry)—often express concern that their occupation may be removed from the Core Skills Occupations List (CSOL).

This anxiety is frequently fuelled by rumours circulating in online forums, Facebook groups, and blogs, many of which rely on outdated or anecdotal information.

As a Registered Migration Agent specialising in employer-sponsored pathways, I see this concern regularly. The key message is clear: changes to the CSOL are not arbitrary. They are grounded in robust, publicly available labour market data published by Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA).

The Evidence Base: 2025 Occupation Shortage List (OSL)

The foundation for the upcoming CSOL 2026 is the 2025 Occupation Shortage List (OSL), released in October 2025. This comprehensive assessment covers 1,022 occupations across Australia.

Key national findings:

• Only 29% of occupations (293 out of 1,022) are in national shortage
• This represents a decline from previous years, signalling a softening labour market
• Persistent shortages remain concentrated in:
  • Healthcare
  • Construction
  • Trades
  • Regional and remote roles

These findings directly inform CSOL policy settings following industry and stakeholder consultations in 2025.

The current CSOL, effective from December 2024, contains approximately 456 occupations and is available here: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/Documents/core-sol.pdf

An updated CSOL reflecting the 2025 OSL is expected in 2026.

Latest Labour Market Snapshot: September 2025 Occupation Shortage Report

The Quarterly Occupation Shortage Report – September 2025 provides near-real-time insights into recruitment conditions across Australia:

• National fill rate: 70.2%
  • Down 0.3 percentage points quarter-on-quarter
  • Up 2.2 points year-on-year
• Rate of change in shortages is slowing
• More suitable candidates available, despite fewer applicants per vacancy
• Metro fill rate: 71.5% (down 0.7 points)
• Regional fill rate: 67.1% (up 1.3 points)
• Metro–regional gap narrowed to 4.4 points
• Improved fill rates for Skill Level 1 occupations
• Skill Level 3 occupations remain constrained, with a fill rate of just 54.3%

These trends explain why Australia’s occupation shortages in 2026 are likely to continue prioritising essential services, particularly healthcare and skilled trades, rather than oversupplied professional roles.

How to Check What Occupations are in Demand and in Skill Shortage in Australia?: Using the OSL Tool

JSA’s Occupation Shortage List (OSL) tool is publicly accessible and highly practical: https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/occupation-shortage/occupation-shortage-list

You can filter by:

• Occupation name
• ANZSCO code
• State or territory
• Shortage rating

This allows you to identify national versus regional demand, which is critical given that many occupations show shortages only outside major metropolitan centres.

Shortage rating definitions:

• S — Strong shortage: Significant recruitment difficulty, low applicant supply, high vacancy rates
• R — Regional shortage: Shortages primarily in regional or remote locations
• M — Moderate shortage: Some recruitment challenges, but roles can be filled
• NS — No shortage: Adequate supply; vacancies filled with relative ease

Latest Labour Market Snapshot: September 2025 Occupation Shortage Report

The Quarterly Occupation Shortage Report – September 2025 provides near-real-time insights into recruitment conditions across Australia:

• National fill rate: 70.2%
  • Down 0.3 percentage points quarter-on-quarter
  • Up 2.2 points year-on-year
• Rate of change in shortages is slowing
• More suitable candidates available, despite fewer applicants per vacancy
• Metro fill rate: 71.5% (down 0.7 points)
• Regional fill rate: 67.1% (up 1.3 points)
• Metro–regional gap narrowed to 4.4 points
• Improved fill rates for Skill Level 1 occupations
• Skill Level 3 occupations remain constrained, with a fill rate of just 54.3%

These trends explain why Australia’s occupation shortages in 2026 are likely to continue prioritising essential services, particularly healthcare and skilled trades, rather than oversupplied professional roles.

How to Check What Occupations are in Demand and in Skill Shortage in Australia?: Using the OSL Tool

JSA’s Occupation Shortage List (OSL) tool is publicly accessible and highly practical: https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/occupation-shortage/occupation-shortage-list

You can filter by:

• Occupation name
• ANZSCO code
• State or territory
• Shortage rating

This allows you to identify national versus regional demand, which is critical given that many occupations show shortages only outside major metropolitan centres.

Shortage rating definitions:

• S — Strong shortage: Significant recruitment difficulty, low applicant supply, high vacancy rates
• R — Regional shortage: Shortages primarily in regional or remote locations
• M — Moderate shortage: Some recruitment challenges, but roles can be filled
• NS — No shortage: Adequate supply; vacancies filled with relative ease

CSOL Occupations in Focus: Insights from the 2025 OSL

Below is a data-driven snapshot of several commonly discussed CSOL occupations, with more precise insights from the 2025 OSL and supporting JSA reports. Note that while some show persistent shortages (especially in trades and healthcare), others have eased significantly.

• Accountant (General) (ANZSCO 221111): Consistently rated NS (No Shortage) nationally and across all states/territories in the 2025 OSL. Recruitment is straightforward due to a strong domestic pipeline and returning workers post-pandemic. This occupation has been flagged in past reviews for potential CSOL scrutiny if shortages don’t emerge.
• Registered Nurses (e.g., Aged Care 254412, nec 254499): Healthcare remains a hotspot. Many nursing roles, particularly Aged Care and specialised areas, show S (Strong shortage) nationally, driven by ageing population demands and workforce attrition. JSA highlights Registered Nurses as one of the top shortage occupations, with persistent gaps in regional and critical care settings.
• Marketing Specialist (ANZSCO 225113): Rated NS nationally in recent assessments. The easing labour market has increased applicant pools, especially in urban centres like Sydney and Melbourne, reducing recruitment difficulties.
• Chef (ANZSCO 351311) and Cook (ANZSCO 351411): Hospitality trades continue to struggle. Chefs often rated S or R, with strong shortages in regional areas due to skill requirements and working conditions. Cooks show similar patterns, frequently appearing in JSA’s top shortage lists alongside other apprenticeship-based roles.
• Software Engineer (ANZSCO 261313): ICT shortages have moderated post-2022 peaks. Many programmer and engineer roles now NS or M nationally, reflecting tech sector adjustments and increased graduate supply.
• Electrician (General) (ANZSCO 341111): A standout in shortages. Rated S (Strong) in many assessments, especially for skilled trades requiring apprenticeships. JSA’s 2025 reports repeatedly list Electricians among majority-male occupations with ongoing gaps, linked to construction booms and energy transitions.
• Civil Engineer (ANZSCO 233211) and Mechanical Engineer (ANZSCO 233512): Engineering has seen improvement in metropolitan areas, shifting to NS or M in some categories. However, specific project demands (e.g., infrastructure) can create regional pockets of shortage.