Every year, Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) publishes the Occupation Shortage List (OSL) — a snapshot assessment of which occupations in Australia are facing recruitment difficulties. The list helps shape policy decisions, training initiatives, and migration pathways by highlighting where labour supply doesn’t meet demand. ([Jobs and Skills Australia][1])
There are two versions of the OSL:
🔹 One based on the OSCA 2024 framework
🔹 Another based on ANZSCO 2022 classification
In addition to the list itself, JSA publishes several companion reports and analyses, such as the OSL Key Findings, Additional Insights, and Stakeholder Survey Snapshot — all intended to provide context and deeper interpretation.
Below, we break down the key insights from the most recent OSL, examine trends in labour markets, and consider implications for jobseekers, employers, and migration policy.
🔍 Key Findings from Recent OSLs
Declining but Persistent Shortages
The 2024 OSL indicates that **33 %** of assessed occupations (303 out of 916) are in national shortage — a slight decline from 36 % in 2023.
In earlier years:
🔹 2023: 36 % of occupations in shortage
🔹 2022: 32 % in shortage
So while the share of occupations in shortage has eased slightly, the proportion remains high — signaling that many parts of the economy still struggle to attract or retain talent.
⚠️ Which Occupations Remain Under Strain?
Shortages are particularly concentrated in these broad groups:
Technicians and Trades Workers: Nearly half of roles in this group are assessed as being in shortage.
Professionals, especially in health, education, engineering, and science sectors
Care and support roles: Many occupations in health, aged care, and community services have been on the shortage list consistently.
Some occupations have remained in shortage every year since 2021 (139 such occupations) — pointing to deep structural gaps rather than temporary mismatches.
🔚 Conclusion
The Jobs and Skills Australia Occupation Shortage List is an essential tool to understand labour market pressures in Australia. While the share of occupations in shortage dipped slightly in 2024, many roles continue to face recruitment challenges — especially in trades, health, education, and care sectors, and in regional areas.
