The 2026 Occupation Shortage List (OSL) and Occupation Shortage Drivers (OSD) analysis provides a detailed picture of Australia’s changing occupation shortages, including where shortages persist and the factors contributing to them.
Occupation shortages continued to ease in 2026, with 279 occupations in national shortage - or 27% of the total assessed. This is down from 29% in 2025 and a peak of 36% in 2023.
Despite the overall easing, shortages remain concentrated among Professionals, and Technicians and Trades Workers. Almost half of Technicians and Trades Workers and 37% of Professionals were assessed as being in shortage.
Persistent shortages also remain a challenge, with 127 occupations in shortage continuously from 2021 to 2026. Technicians and Trades Workers and Professionals accounted for 90% of these occupations, with long-running shortages concentrated in areas including construction, engineering, electrotechnology and telecommunications trades, health, early childhood education, and engineering and science.
OSD analysis provides further insight into why shortages occur. It identifies three key drivers: supply pipeline constraints, a lack of suitable applicants and retention challenges.
Analysis shows that shortages can have a single dominant driver or result from a combination of factors. For example, training was the main driver for Motor Mechanics, while suitability was the main driver for Registered Nurses, with training also a significant contributor.
An updated methodology explaining how the OSL is developed, how data and stakeholder evidence are used, and the key elements of the assessment process is also available.
