The minister for labour, (CSV), responded to a parliamentary question from Socialist MPs and on the new list of occupations in very short supply published at the end of March. Based on data for the year 2024, the list identifies 22 occupations that are struggling to find takers in Luxembourg. This figure is down slightly on the previous year (24), but still reflects strong tensions on the labour market.
The core of the shortage is concentrated in four major sectors: finance, care and social action, IT, and industry.
In finance, Luxembourg is desperately seeking credit and risk analysts, bank account managers, as well as specialist compliance profiles such as KYC/AML analysts. The sector's dynamism is hampered by a lack of qualified profiles, particularly for positions requiring dual technical and regulatory expertise.
In the healthcare sector, there is a chronic shortage: the country lacks nurses, care assistants, and social workers, but also specialist educators and early childhood professionals. These professions suffer from a lack of attractiveness, but their need is not diminishing, especially with the aging of the population.
On the IT side, there is a desperate shortage of web developers, data analysts, cloud architects, cybersecurity experts and systems administrators. The sector is in a permanent shortage, despite the many training courses launched in recent years.
Finally, in industry, the government is noting an acute shortage of industrial mechanics, aeronautical maintenance technicians, as well as body repairers, body painters and R&D engineers. The problem is both generational and structural: certain manual trades are struggling to attract new vocations.
Targeted training, but results still limited
The government is banking on training to address these tensions. In 2024, 9,170 jobseekers underwent training, including more than 2,000 in sector-specific courses. Recent schemes include:
- the AML/KYC & Compliance programme, targeting banking jobs in short supply.
- the Data Analyst course launched with the CNFPC.
- , to train developers.
- the Skills4Job programme, focusing on retraining for jobs in short supply (572 participants, 43% return to employment).
For the health professions, Adem is working with the relevant ministry on vocational language courses, while training contingents are being set up with professional chambers to meet urgent market needs.
Another lever: international recruitment. Between September 2023 and March 2025, for these professions - 70% of the total over this period. However, not all of them lead to recruitment. Refugees, meanwhile, do not require a certificate to work, but no specific data is available on their integration into these trades.
While these measures show a willingness to adapt, they are still struggling to close the gaps. The tension persists, and in certain sectors such as healthcare or tech, it could get even worse if demographic and economic trends continue.