Information and Communication Technology (ICT) specialists continue to dominate the job market in Europe, representing a substantial 9% of all online job advertisements. Euronews Business delves into the latest trends in online job postings across the EU, highlighting the most sought-after skills and professions for 2023.
Are you looking for a new job, thinking about pivoting your career, or just starting out in the workforce? Exploring the most advertised occupations online can offer valuable insights into the current job market. Utilizing Eurostat data from various job portals, Euronews Business provides a comprehensive analysis of which jobs are trending and what qualifications are in demand across Europe this year.
Eurostat has released experimental statistics featuring two critical indicators: the total number of online job postings and the Online Job Advertisement Rate (OJAR), which factors in the total number of employees in each occupation. This data is essential for understanding the landscape of current employment opportunities.
ICT Specialists: The Most Sought-After Professionals
An eye-opening 871,000 online job ads were posted for ICT specialists, making them the most sought-after professionals in the EU—accounting for 9% of all job advertisements. Following closely, 515,000 ads were aimed at Software and Applications Developers and Analysts, which translates to 5.3% of the total postings.
Engineering professionals claimed the third spot with 412,000 postings (4.3%), while Manufacturing Workers had 385,000 advertisements, constituting 4%. Rounding out the top ten most advertised roles are:
- Physical and Engineering Science Technicians: 351,000 ads (3.6%)
- Shop Salespersons: 312,000 ads (3.2%)
- Transport and Storage Laborers: 308,000 ads (3.2%)
- Sales, Marketing, and Development Managers: 280,000 ads (2.9%)
- Other Clerical Support Workers: 262,000 ads (2.7%)
- Financial and Mathematical Associate Professionals: 246,000 ads (2.5%)
Heavy Truck and Bus Drivers in Demand
In more niche markets, 136,000 job ads (1.4%) called for Heavy Truck and Bus Drivers, while 61,000 ads were posted for Car, Van, and Motorcycle Drivers, representing 0.6%. The food service sector also showed robust demand, with nearly 100,000 ads for Cooks and Food Preparation Assistants, and 55,000 ads for Food and Related Products Machine Operators, together making up 2.6% of the total job postings.
Not to be overlooked, healthcare showed a strong presence in job ads with 96,000 listings for Doctors, 115,000 for Personal Care Workers in Health Services, and other healthcare roles, making a collective 3.5% of online job opportunities.
Interestingly, ICT professionals held the highest share of online job ads at 27.1%, closely followed by Office Professionals at 25.5% and Researchers and Engineers at 23.4%. Teaching professionals constituted the smallest share, at only 5.8%, while Health Professionals made up nearly 10% (9.9%) of postings.
Professionals vs. Workers
The job market dynamics show that professionals (23.4%) and associate professionals (18.9%) account for a significant 42.3% of online job ads, with managers representing just 7.8%. In contrast, service and sales workers make up 12% of postings, while elementary roles account for 11.3%, and clerical positions comprise 10.2%.
The Most In-Demand Skills: Eagerness to Learn and Teamwork
The top skills employers are looking for reveal a clear trend—”Willingness to Learn” emerged as the most sought-after quality, appearing in 26.2% of job ads. Teamwork follows closely behind, with the ability to “Collaborate in Teams and Networks” ranked at 21.4%. Employers also prioritize a proactive attitude, noted in 12.4% of ads, whereas “Creative Thinking and Innovation” was less emphasized, appearing in just 4% of listings.
Understanding Eurostat’s OJAR Statistics
Eurostat’s OJAR metric provides a deeper look at job advertisements, incorporating the number of employees in each profession. This helps highlight sectors where recruitment could be challenging. Topping the OJAR chart are Sales, Marketing, and Development Managers at 26.6%, followed by Manufacturing Workers at 22.4% and Other Sales Workers at 17.6%.
Although roles in the public sector—such as healthcare professionals and teachers—may experience recruitment issues, they are not among the top advertised jobs online. Eurostat notes that these positions often aren’t advertised on the web, which may skew perceptions about their demand.
Clarifying Job Ads vs. Vacancies
It’s crucial to differentiate between job advertisements and actual vacancies. Many positions may go unadvertised, while some advertisements are not linked to immediate hiring. A single ad can represent multiple vacancies, complicating the picture of the job market.
Photo credit & article inspired by: Euronews
