Labour shortages continue to shape the European economy. According to Eurostat, more than 1 million job vacancies in Europe are concentrated in Germany alone, making it the country with the highest unmet labour demand. The UK follows with 750,000 vacancies, while France has 500,000.
What counts as a job vacancy?
A job vacancy refers to a paid post that is newly created, unoccupied, or about to become vacant. Employers must actively seek to fill these posts within a set time. Eurostat calculates the Job Vacancy Rate (JVR) by dividing vacant posts by the total number of jobs (vacant plus filled).
For example, a 3% JVR means three of every 100 jobs remain unfilled. In the second quarter of 2025, the EU average vacancy rate was 2.1%, slightly down from 2.2% in Q1.
Countries with highest and lowest vacancy rates
Job vacancy rates differ sharply across Europe. The Netherlands tops the list at 4.2%, while Belgium stands at 4.1%. Austria and Norway follow at 3.4%, and Malta holds 3%. These figures show that Northwest Europe has the strongest demand for workers.
In contrast, Eastern and Southern Europe face weaker demand. Romania has the lowest rate at 0.6%, while Spain and Poland stand at 0.8%. Bulgaria records 0.9%, and both Turkey and Slovakia are at 1.1%.
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Vacancy rankings: Germany, UK, France
In absolute numbers, Germany leads with 1.05 million open jobs. The UK ranks second with 781,000 vacancies, and France comes third with 504,000. The Netherlands is close behind with 400,000.
Other countries with over 100,000 vacancies include Belgium (170,000), Austria (148,000), Spain (145,000), Sweden (113,000), Norway (107,000), and Poland (101,000).
At the bottom of the list, Iceland has just 5,000 open jobs, followed by Luxembourg (7,000), Malta (8,000), and North Macedonia (10,000).
Why so many jobs remain open
High vacancy rates often reflect skills mismatches. Employers report difficulty in finding candidates with the right qualifications. In fact, a 2023 ManpowerGroup survey found that 75% of European employers struggle to fill roles, with Germany and Greece reporting shortages as high as 82%.
Similarly, a Eurobarometer survey revealed that 54% of EU SMEs list skill shortages as one of their top three business challenges. This mismatch between employer demand and worker skills explains why millions of jobs remain unfilled despite high unemployment.
Beyond the numbers: migration and labour mobility
Labour market trends are also shaped by migration. In 2023, Germany welcomed 1.27 million immigrants, the highest in Europe. Spain was not far behind, receiving 1.25 million migrants, even though its job vacancy numbers were much lower at 145,000.
These contrasts highlight that each country’s labour demand must be seen in the context of economic size, migration flows, and workforce needs. The issue of job vacancies in Europe is not only about open positions but also about deeper challenges such as skill gaps, migration, and economic growth. While Germany, the UK, and France lead in numbers, the problem extends across the continent. Addressing these shortages will require stronger vocational training, better alignment between education and jobs, and policies that match labour mobility with real market needs.
