Global Talent Shortages Persist: Employers Desperate For Healthcare, Sales, and Skilled Trades Professionals

While global competition for talent has reportedly eased in the past couple of years, Indeed’s Hiring lab also finds there is a persistent need for skilled professionals across many industries/sectors in the workforce. 

According to recent analysis of resume search data published by Indeed, employers in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States face significant hiring challenges in healthcare, sales, skilled trades, and hospitality. 

Filling talent gaps in the healthcare sector is a common challenge, with high demand for nurses, doctors, and aged-care workers due to aging populations and persistent skill shortages.  

The U.K. recorded the highest search volume (6.9% of all resume searches in 2023) for the key word “Nurse” resumes. This was followed by the U.S., with the highest search term being “registered nurse” at 6.9% of all resume’s searches. 

Notably, Australia’s top resume search term was “childcare” (3% of all resume searches in 2023), and Indeed reports that early childhood education experience ranks among the most sought-after skills in the country. 

Sales professionals were also in high demand across all four nations, and the same was found for skilled trades.  

Mechanics, electricians, and plumbers are particularly sought after in Canada. However, electricians and mechanics are in very high demand for Australia, U.S. and U.K. employers, according to the data.  

Moreover, the hospitality industry, represented by resume searches for chefs and cooks, also features prominently in the top searches for these countries. 

It’s also worth noting that Indeed’s Hiring Lab reports job postings in these four nations have fallen from 2023 — down 38% in the U.K., 36% in Canada, 31% in Australia, 28% in the U.S. 

Interestingly, cross-border resume searches (searching for resumes of skilled professionals outside of their own country) by employers do not necessarily reflect immigration patterns.  

For example, the resume data suggests Australian employers are showing a keen interest in U.S. and Canadian jobseekers, meanwhile their immigration intake is dominated by India, China, and the Philippines. 

By leveraging data-driven insights and expanding their search beyond borders, organizations can navigate the challenges posed by skill shortages and ensure they have the right talent in place to drive future success.