The job market in Europe is evolving. Technological innovation and changing needs are transforming many sectors. Policymakers are calling for urgent action to address labour and skills shortages across the continent.
Job posting data offers a clear picture of current hiring trends. So, which jobs are in highest demand in Europe?
Euronews Business takes a closer look at the top 20 sectors based on job postings on global hiring platform Indeed, covering the UK, Germany, France, and the Netherlands, averaged over the March to May 2025 period.
Management, sales, and installation & maintenance dominate the list
Management, sales, and installation & maintenance consistently rank in the top five across all four countries, making them the most in-demand roles in Europe.
Installation and maintenance jobs constitute 14.5% of job postings in Germany (the highest share in that country), 9% in the Netherlands (second), 6.9% in France (fourth), and 5.7% in the UK (fifth).
Maintenance workers perform a wide range of repairs on infrastructure, equipment, and tools across many industries. They help ensure smooth operations by inspecting and servicing machinery and facilities.
“Because every industry needs maintenance workers, it can be a reliable career choice for you,” Indeed notes.
Installation technicians are responsible for the proper and timely setup of systems and devices for both businesses and residential customers. They are also in high demand across many sectors.
Management roles account for 10.2% of job postings in the UK (the second highest share), followed by 10.1% in the Netherlands (the highest), 7.6% in France (third), and 6.4% in Germany (fourth).
Sales represent 9.9% of job postings in Germany (second highest), followed by 9.2% in France (the highest), 8.5% in the Netherlands (third), and 6.7% in the UK (third). Indeed emphasises that most companies rely on skilled sales teams to generate revenue and drive business success.
Food preparation and service also show high shares in three countries: 10.4% in the UK (the highest among all sectors), 7.8% in France (second place), and 5.9% in the Netherlands. There is no data for Germany, as this sector is not included in the dataset.
Administrative assistance is also in high demand. Its shares in job postings are: 7.2% in Germany, 4.7% in the UK, 4.4% in the Netherlands and 3.6% in France.
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Software development ranks sixth on average
Across the four-country average, software development ranks sixth, with a 3.9% share of job postings. Germany leads with 5%, followed by the Netherlands at 3.8%, France at 3.5%, and the UK at 3.1%.
Software development is defined by Indeed as “the activity concerned with creating, establishing, implementing, and designing computer programmes.”
“Understanding the software development process is useful if you’re interested in an IT career,” the platform advises.
Other key sectors with over 3% share
Four other sectors with a four-country average above 3.5% are cleaning & sanitation, retail, education & instruction, and nursing.
Accounting, production & manufacturing, and construction also have average shares between 3% and 3.5% across the four countries.
Looking at country-specific data highlights how demand varies across different labour markets.
In the UK, personal care & home health ranks fourth with a 6.3% share. Education & instruction also holds a significant position, ranking sixth at 5.3%.
In Germany, alongside other high-demand roles, IT operations & helpdesk holds a 4.3% share of job postings. In general, technical and administrative roles dominate the list in Germany.
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Healthcare roles also in high demand in France
In France, there is a diverse mix of in-demand roles, including a high number of postings for cleaning roles (5.4%). The healthcare sector also shows significant need, with nursing at 4.2%, personal care & home health at 4%, and physicians & surgeons at 3.6%.
Nursing ranks fourth in the Netherlands
Nursing accounts for 8.3% of job postings in the Netherlands, making it the fourth-highest sector. Physicians and surgeons have a 2.4% share, highlighting the strong demand for healthcare roles, similar to trends seen in France. Childcare also stands out with a 1.9% share, representing a uniquely high demand in the Netherlands compared to the other four countries.
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Emerging AI, tech and green roles
New roles are also emerging, though their share in job postings is not yet clear. “We anticipate that AI/GenAI, cybersecurity, green energy, and biotechnology will produce new top-earning job titles over the next 5–10 years,” Pawel Adrjan, Director of Economic Research at Indeed, told Euronews Business.
Positions such as AI ethicist, GenAI engineer, climate data analyst, and key sustainability roles are gaining traction and are expected to move into the top salary brackets as demand for specialised expertise grows.
Wage growth in the 25 largest occupations across these four countries also offers valuable insight into labour market trends. For those curious about the highest-paying jobs in Europe, this report demonstrates the top earners across key sectors.