Nigerians considering employment opportunities abroad may find opportunities in Australia’s health, construction, engineering and technical sectors. A new report by Jobs and Skills Australia has identified 127 occupations that have remained in worker shortage every year since 2021, highlighting areas where the country continues to struggle to find enough qualified workers.*
The findings come from Australia’s 2026 Occupation Shortage List, which assesses the country’s labour market and identifies occupations where employers face difficulties recruiting suitable workers.
Although the overall number of occupations experiencing shortages has declined, some industries continue to face long-running recruitment challenges.
Here are the major sectors affected and what Nigerians seeking employment in Australia should know.
1. Australia still needs workers in 127 occupations
According to Jobs and Skills Australia, 127 occupations remained in shortage continuously from 2021 to 2026.
The agency identified Professionals and Technicians and Trades Workers as the two largest groups affected.
Together, they account for 90% of the occupations that have experienced persistent shortages.
The affected industries include construction, engineering, healthcare, early childhood education, telecommunications and electrical trades.
2. Healthcare and education professionals remain in demand
Healthcare is among the sectors experiencing persistent worker shortages in Australia.
The affected occupations include various health professionals, while early childhood education also features among the areas with long-running recruitment challenges.
This could interest Nigerians with relevant qualifications and professional experience in nursing, healthcare and education.
However, applicants must meet Australia’s professional registration, qualification and employment requirements before practising in regulated occupations.
3. Australia also needs construction and engineering workers
Construction and engineering are other major areas affected by persistent shortages.
Jobs and Skills Australia identified several occupations across building, engineering, electrical and telecommunications trades.
These shortages include technical positions that require specialised training, practical experience and recognised qualifications.
For Nigerians with backgrounds in engineering, electrical installation, telecommunications and construction trades, these sectors may be worth investigating when exploring overseas employment.
4. Why has Australia struggled to find enough workers?
Jobs and Skills Australia identified three major factors contributing to persistent occupational shortages.
They include difficulties producing enough qualified workers through education and training, employers struggling to find applicants with the right skills and experience, and challenges retaining existing workers.
For example, training gaps were identified as the main driver of shortages among motor mechanics.
For registered nurses, the main challenge was finding applicants considered suitable for available positions, although training also contributed to the shortage.
This means that having vacancies does not necessarily mean employers will accept every applicant.
5. What should Nigerians know before applying for these jobs?
Being listed among Australia’s shortage occupations does not automatically qualify a Nigerian applicant for employment or a work visa.
Applicants must first establish whether their occupation is eligible under an applicable Australian visa programme.
Australia operates several skilled migration pathways, including the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189), Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) and Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482).
Depending on the visa, applicants may need an eligible occupation, a positive skills assessment, relevant qualifications, work experience, English-language proficiency or employer sponsorship.
The country’s Department of Home Affairs maintains a separate Skilled Occupation List showing occupations eligible for different visa programmes.
Therefore, Nigerians interested in these opportunities should check the requirements for their specific occupations before paying recruitment agents or making relocation plans.
The 2026 findings show that Australia continues to need qualified workers in several professional and technical fields. However, meeting the country’s immigration and professional requirements remains essential for anyone hoping to benefit from the opportunities.