On 15 October 2025, Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) released the Occupation Shortage List (OSL), an overview of occupations experiencing shortages nationally and, in each State, and Territory. The OSL serves as a key input into identifying areas of need and in shaping workforce strategies, training programs, and migration pathways, aiming to bridge critical skills gaps and support industry growth. 

This year’s release marks the first to incorporate the newly established Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA), a classification structure introduced last year by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). SaCSA contributed to its development through the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) Consultation Round 4. 

 

Key Findings from the 2025 Occupation Shortage List

The 2025 OSL highlights that 29% of assessed occupations (293 out of 1,022) are currently in shortage nationwide. This is an improvement from the 2024 OSL, where 33% of the assessed occupations were reported to be in shortage nationally. The findings reaffirm that securing and retaining skilled talent remains a critical challenge for Australian businesses, one that Jobs and Skills Councils like SaCSA continue to actively address. 

The OSL, which evaluates over 1,000 occupations across Skill Levels 1 to 4, guides policies to address workforce supply and demand imbalances. This includes identifying occupations eligible for the Skills in Demand (SID) visa and for the Australian Apprenticeship Priority List (AAPL), providing key occupations with additional support to help alleviate workforce gaps. 

 

SaCSA’s Role in Contributing to the 2025 Occupation Shortage List

The 2025 OSL reflects the latest workforce trends and incorporates insights from a wide range of industry stakeholders. SaCSA’s contributions, backed by comprehensive industry analysis and stakeholder feedback, helped ensure that critical occupations across our sectors were accurately represented. This collaborative approach has strengthened understanding of workforce needs, helping to address skills gaps and inform targeted workforce planning initiatives.  

While the 2025 OSL captures many critical roles across the Arts, Personal Services, Retail, Tourism, and Hospitality sectors (See Table 1), several occupations remain unlisted despite evidence of skills shortages. SaCSA remains committed to advocating for these roles to be recognised in future OSL updates. We will continue working with industry partners to gather evidence and highlight their vital contribution to Australia’s workforce and economy. Through ongoing engagement with JSA and other key stakeholders, SaCSA will strive to ensure that these occupations receive appropriate support through targeted policies, training and migration initiatives, and workforce planning measures.

 

Why Being on the List Matters: The Benefits for Industry  

Occupations included on the OSL receive focused government attention, helping to direct training, funding and migration support where it’s most needed. For example: 

• The Skills in Demand (SID) visa enables employers to recruit skilled overseas workers more efficiently. 

• The Australian Apprenticeships Priority List (AAPL) prioritises occupations for government-funded apprenticeship and traineeship support, making it easier for job seekers to train in high-demand areas. 

 

For industries represented on the OSL, this means having a government-backed framework for addressing shortages, attracting skilled workers, and tailoring training to equip the next generation of workers in roles that are in high demand. 

 

Summary of 2025 OSL Results  

Table 1 outlines the 16 occupations identified as being in either national or regional shortage for 2025 and two occupations that were identified as being in no shortage that fall within SaCSA’s scope. Four of these occupations (boldfaced) are new inclusions introduced through OSCA, while Film and Video Editor is the only occupation that changed from No Shortage in 2024 to Shortage in 2025. 

 

Table 1: Occupations in Shortage Across 2024 and 2025

Occupation	Sector	2024 OSL Rating	2025 OSL Rating
Audio Engineer	Arts	National Shortage	National Shortage
Film and Video Editor	Arts	No Shortage	National Shortage
Graphic Pre-press Operator	Arts	National Shortage	National Shortage
Lighting Technician	Arts	National Shortage	National Shortage
Barber	Personal Services	National Shortage	National Shortage
Beauty Therapist	Personal Services	National Shortage	National Shortage
Dermal Therapist	Personal Services	National Shortage	National Shortage
Hairdresser	Personal Services	National Shortage	National Shortage
Community Pharmacist	Retail	National Shortage	National Shortage
Community Pharmacy Technician	Retail	National Shortage	Regional Shortage
Tour Guide	Tourism	National Shortage	National Shortage
Travel Consultant	Tourism	National Shortage	National Shortage
Chef	Hospitality	National Shortage	Regional Shortage
Cook	Hospitality	National Shortage	National Shortage
Pastrycook	Hospitality	National Shortage	Regional Shortage
Senior Chef	Hospitality	National Shortage	Regional Shortage
Sales and Marketing Manager	Retail	National Shortage	No Shortage
Hotel or Motel Manager	Hospitality	National Shortage	No Shortage

 

SaCSA’s Role in Addressing Skills Challenges  

While the 2025 OSL provides a national benchmark, SaCSA remains focused on practical, ongoing initiatives to address workforce needs and existing shortages across our sectors. Looking ahead to 2026, SaCSA will continue to deepen its understanding of labour market trends and workforce development priorities by: 

• Enhancing workforce analysis to pinpoint future needs and forecast changes  

• Developing tailored training solutions across SaCSA’s sectors to meet industry-specific requirements  

• Fostering cross-sector collaboration through Jobs and Skills Councils (JSCs) to maximise resources and drive collective solutions.  

 

As outlined in SaCSA’s Workforce Plan Updates 2025, we are leading projects to explore the drivers contributing to ongoing occupation shortages across our sectors, both nationally and regionally. By combining data-driven analysis with insights from industry, government and unions, our projects are shaping real solutions that strengthen Australia’s workforce. 

By continuing to work closely with JSA and industry stakeholders, SaCSA aims to ensure that shortages in these priority areas are addressed in meaningful ways, supporting long-term workforce sustainability, opportunities and growth.  

Learn more about SaCSA’s current initiatives via our projects page.  

 

Opportunities for Industry  

For businesses and professionals within the Arts, Personal Services, Retail, Tourism, and Hospitality sectors, the 2025 OSL serves as both a signal of workforce need and a pathway for future development. Industry leaders and employers are encouraged to leverage these insights, engage with training opportunities, and collaborate with SaCSA and other industry stakeholders to help tackle these challenges.  

 

Contact JSA 

To view the complete 2025 OSL and supporting information, visit: Jobs and Skills Australia.  

For questions about the OSL results, methodology, or related workforce data, contact Jobs and Skills Australia at OccupationShortageList@jobsandskills.gov.au.