Europe needs healthcare workers, but the shortage is not the same in every country or every profession.
The latest 2025 EURES labour-shortage report, released in 2026, describes shortages in health and care as widespread and persistent. Doctors, nurses and care workers are among the roles facing critical staffing gaps across European countries. The problem is increasingly structural rather than a temporary post-pandemic hiring spike.
For doctors and nurses considering an international move, that creates opportunities. But a shortage does not automatically mean that every foreign-trained professional can start work immediately. Qualification recognition, professional registration, language ability and immigration rules still matter.
Why Europe Still Needs More Doctors and Nurses
Several pressures are hitting European healthcare systems at the same time.
Europe's population is ageing, increasing demand for healthcare and long-term care. The healthcare workforce itself is also getting older. OECD and European Commission data show that more than one-third of doctors and around one-quarter of nurses in the EU are over 55, meaning substantial numbers may retire in the coming years.
The scale of the longer-term workforce problem is significant. OECD and European Commission analysis estimated that EU countries were short approximately 1.2 million doctors, nurses and midwives in 2022, based on minimum workforce-density thresholds for universal health coverage. This is an estimate rather than a count of open vacancies, but it illustrates the pressure facing European health systems.
Recruitment from abroad has consequently become important. In 2023, more than 40% of doctors in Norway, Ireland and Switzerland were foreign-trained, while more than half of nurses in Ireland were trained abroad.
Where Are the Healthcare Jobs in 2026?
There is no single European ranking that tells every doctor or nurse where to move. Demand varies by occupation, specialty, region and employer.
However, the latest EURES evidence gives job seekers some useful signals.
The 2025 EURES report says health and care employs around 25 million people and continues to experience particularly severe and persistent shortages. Doctors, nurses and care workers are specifically identified among the occupations facing widespread gaps.
The June 2026 EURES analysis also highlights Bulgaria, Italy and the Netherlands as countries where employers report difficulties filling a wide range of occupations, with specialist doctors specifically mentioned among the examples. More broadly, the report finds that the health and care sector has some of Europe's highest shortage levels.
Nursing deserves particular attention. European Labour Authority evidence has repeatedly identified nursing professionals among Europe's most widespread shortage occupations. Specialist doctors and general medical practitioners also appear among critical shortage occupations.
For job seekers, promising markets can therefore include countries such as:
Ireland, where reliance on internationally trained doctors and nurses is already high.
The Netherlands, where employers report shortages across numerous occupations, including specialist medical roles.
Germany, which has a large healthcare and elderly-care labour market.
Italy and other parts of Southern Europe, where particular medical occupations can be difficult to fill.
Nordic countries, where international healthcare professionals already form an important part of the workforce in some markets.
These examples should be treated as starting points rather than a guaranteed job list. Local shortages can change, and one country may need intensive-care nurses while another needs GPs, psychiatrists, radiologists or elderly-care staff.
What International Doctors and Nurses Need to Check
Healthcare is different from many other shortage sectors because doctors and nurses work in regulated professions.
Before accepting a job offer, check four things.
1. Qualification Recognition
A medical or nursing degree earned abroad may need formal recognition before you can practise.
Within the EU, European professional-recognition rules can make mobility easier for qualifying professionals. Applicants trained outside the EU may face a more detailed assessment process.
2. Professional Registration
A job vacancy and permission to practise are separate issues.
Doctors and nurses normally need registration or authorisation from the relevant national professional authority. Requirements differ by country, so candidates should always use the official regulator rather than relying only on recruitment advertisements.
3. Language Requirements
Language remains one of the biggest barriers to cross-border healthcare recruitment.
The latest EURES analysis specifically identifies language differences and recognition of qualifications as obstacles preventing workers from moving to countries where shortages exist.
For patient-facing jobs, employers or regulators may require proof that you can communicate safely in the country's language.
4. Visa and Work Rights
EU/EEA citizens generally have greater freedom to work across participating European labour markets. Professionals arriving from outside these areas must check the immigration rules of their destination country.
A healthcare shortage does not automatically remove visa requirements.
How to Target the Right Healthcare Job
Instead of sending the same application across Europe, narrow your search strategically.
Start by identifying countries reporting shortages in your exact occupation. Then check whether your qualification can be recognised, what language level is required, and whether you qualify for a work or residence permit.
Use official national health-service career pages, hospital websites, professional regulators and EURES alongside specialist medical job portals.
International recruitment is likely to remain part of Europe's workforce strategy. OECD data show that the inflow of foreign-trained doctors into European countries increased by 17% in 2022 compared with 2019, while the inflow of foreign-trained nurses rose by 72%.
At the same time, Europe cannot solve its staffing problems through overseas recruitment alone. Better working conditions, retention, training capacity and smarter use of healthcare skills are also central to addressing the shortage.
For doctors and nurses looking abroad in 2026, the opportunity is real — but the best destination is the one where workforce demand, professional recognition, language readiness and immigration eligibility all align.
Looking for your next opportunity? Find healthcare jobs on Curabix and connect with employers searching for qualified medical professionals.
