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2026 Occupation Shortage List (OSL) Survey – Jobs and Skills Australia

13 January 2026

Calling all employers in beekeeping across Australia. The Occupation Shortage List (OSL), produced by Jobs and Skills Australia, provides a list of occupations in shortage at the national level and […]


Calling all employers in beekeeping across Australia.

The Occupation Shortage List (OSL), produced by Jobs and Skills Australia, provides a list of occupations in shortage at the national level and in each state and territory. The OSL is released annually and as a point-in-time assessment of occupations. Insights from the OSL can inform advice to government on labour market policies and programs and AHBIC encourages industry employers to complete the survey so that our industry’s insights are counted and heard.

Occupation Shortage Definition

Jobs and Skills Australia defines an occupation as being in shortage when employers are unable to fill vacancies, face considerable difficulty filling them, or cannot meet significant specialised skill needs within the occupation under the following conditions:

  • At current levels of remuneration
  • At current conditions of employment
  • In reasonably accessible locations.
Image 1: JSA’s three stage occupation assessment process
Stage 2: Manual Verification

In this stage of the assessment process, the preliminary occupation ratings are reviewed using both additional labour market indicators and a significant volume of stakeholder evidence that is primarily gathered through the annual OSL stakeholder survey

Take the survey now to have your voice heard;

Consultations | Jobs and Skills Australia

This survey is an important opportunity to contribute your insights on labour market trends. Your feedback will help strengthen the accuracy and relevance of the 2026 OSL.

The survey will open on Tuesday 20 January 2026 and close on Wednesday 18 March 2026.

We encourage you to share this with your networks. Greater participation means richer insights and stronger reporting.