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Best Business Ideas in Europe: 12 in the Jobs Nobody Can Fill | Female Entrepreneurs

TL;DR: what are the best business ideas in Europe right now?

Businesses in jobs Europe can't fill. The EU's latest shortage report lists welders, electricians and plumbers as short in 20 or more of 28 countries, followed by care assistants, cooks, carpenters, mechanics, roofers, tilers and heat pump installers. Customers wait months for these services, prices are firm, and AI won't do the work. Most need two to four years of training, and in Germany a master craftsman title to run the business, but very few women work in them yet. Below are 12 such businesses, with the evidence, training, rules and prices.

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"Best" business ideas usually means the most profitable or the most fashionable. I'd add a simpler test: is anyone desperate for this service? In much of Europe the answer is yes for skilled trades and care work, where there are far more customers than people able to do the job. That means full order books, firm prices and a business that AI can't replace.
For 30 business ideas ranked by earnings, growth, survival and AI risk, see our sister guide to the best business ideas. Many trades firms are for sale because their owners are retiring; see the best businesses to buy in Europe.
The best business to start is one where customers are already waiting for you. In Europe, that often means a trade.

Which jobs are short in Europe?

The European Labour Authority's 2025 report on labour shortages and surpluses counted 2,617 shortage reports across 28 countries; 24 occupations were short in more than half of them. Welders were short in 22 countries, electricians in 21 and plumbers in 20. Construction had the highest job vacancy rate of any sector in the EU in the second quarter of 2026, according to Eurostat.
Women hold just over a quarter of the jobs in these widespread shortage occupations, but about 70% of jobs in occupations with a surplus of workers, according to the same report. Only 11.1% of craft and related trades workers in the EU are women, and just 1.4% of building trades workers, according to Eurostat. That's a gap, and for women willing to train, an opportunity.

12 best business ideas in shortage jobs

BusinessShortage evidence
Electrical contractingElectricians short in 21 of 28 countries
Plumbing and heatingPlumbers short in 20 of 28 countries
Heat pump installationAir-conditioning and refrigeration mechanics short in 16 countries
Welding and metal fabricationWelders short in 22 of 28 countries
Carpentry and joineryCarpenters and joiners short in 16 countries
RoofingRoofers short in 15 countries
Floor laying and tilingFloor layers and tile setters short in 15 countries
Mobile vehicle repairMotor vehicle mechanics short in 16 countries
Home care agencyHealth care assistants short in 18 countries
Childminding and early yearsChildminders falling for over a decade in England
Catering and food productionCooks short in 17 countries, chefs in 16
IT support and software services57.5% of firms recruiting ICT specialists struggled to fill posts
Source: ELA/EURES Report on labour shortages and surpluses 2025, except where noted.

1. Electrical contracting

Electricians wire new homes, install EV chargers, solar and heat pump controls, and fix faults. Demand keeps rising with electrification, and qualified electricians can set up on their own after a few years of experience.
  • Shortage: Electricians short in 21 of 28 countries.
  • Typical prices: UK electricians charge about £50 an hour (£45–60) or about £400 a day, according to Checkatrade (2026).
  • Training: In the UK, the Level 3 installation electrician apprenticeship typically takes four years; experienced workers can be assessed instead. In Germany, the electronics apprenticeship takes three and a half years.
  • To run your own business: In Germany, electrical work is one of 53 trades where you need a master craftsman (Meister) qualification to run a business, unless you qualify through six years' experience.
  • Women today: About 1.7% of UK electricians are women, according to industry research.
Source: Checkatrade's electrician rates.

2. Plumbing and heating

Plumbers and heating engineers install and repair water, gas and heating systems. Every home needs them, and emergency call-outs pay well.
  • Shortage: Plumbers short in 20 of 28 countries.
  • Typical prices: UK plumbers charge about £50 an hour (£40–60) or £325–375 a day, plus a call-out fee of about £110, according to Checkatrade (June 2026).
  • To run your own business: Plumbing and heating (SHK) is a master-craftsman trade in Germany; in the UK, gas work requires Gas Safe registration.
  • Women today: About 2% of UK plumbers are women, according to industry research.

3. Heat pump installation

Heat pumps are replacing gas boilers across Europe, and there aren't enough people to install them. Heating engineers, electricians and refrigeration technicians can all retrain into this work.
  • Shortage: Air-conditioning and refrigeration mechanics short in 16 countries.
  • Demand: The European Heat Pump Association says Europe needs at least 500,000 skilled full-time workers in the sector by 2030.
  • Who pays: In England and Wales, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme pays £7,500 towards an air-source or ground-source heat pump; installed costs range from about £3,000 to £15,000, according to Checkatrade.
  • Training: Short heat pump courses build on an existing heating, electrical or refrigeration qualification; handling refrigerants requires certification under F-gas rules.
Source: European Heat Pump Association.
Grant details: Boiler Upgrade Scheme on GOV.UK.

4. Welding and metal fabrication

Welders, sheet metal workers and fabricators build everything from gates and staircases to machine parts. Welding is the trade reported in shortage by the most countries.
  • Shortage: Welders were reported in shortage in 22 of 28 countries, sheet metal workers in 19 and structural metal preparers in 17, according to the ELA 2025 report.
  • Business models: A mobile welding service, a small fabrication workshop for homes and farms, or subcontracting for construction firms.
  • Training: Courses and certification by welding process; many workers train through apprenticeships or vocational schools.

5. Carpentry and joinery

Carpenters and joiners fit kitchens, doors, stairs and furniture and work on renovation projects. Bespoke joinery commands premium prices.
  • Shortage: Carpenters and joiners short in 16 countries.
  • Typical prices: UK carpenters charge about £300 a day, or about £37.50 an hour, according to Checkatrade.
  • To run your own business: Joinery (Tischler) is a master-craftsman trade in Germany.
  • Bootstrapper version: Start with small fitting jobs and furniture repairs before investing in a workshop.

6. Roofing

Roofers repair and replace roofs, fit insulation and increasingly install solar panels. Weather damage keeps demand steady.
  • Shortage: Roofers short in 15 countries.
  • To run your own business: Roofing (Dachdecker) is a master-craftsman trade in Germany.
  • Watch out: Working at height needs strict safety training and insurance.

7. Floor laying and tiling

Tilers and floor layers finish kitchens, bathrooms and renovations. The work is precise and well suited to people who like detail.
  • Shortage: Floor layers and tile setters short in 15 countries.
  • To run your own business: Germany returned tiling and several flooring trades to the master-craftsman requirement for businesses founded from 14 February 2020.
  • Bootstrapper version: Start with bathroom and kitchen tiling for homeowners, then partner with builders.

8. Mobile vehicle repair

Mechanics who come to the customer, for servicing, diagnostics and small repairs, save drivers time and avoid workshop rent.
  • Shortage: Motor vehicle mechanics short in 16 countries.
  • To run your own business: Vehicle mechanics (Kfz-Techniker) is a master-craftsman trade in Germany.
  • Bootstrapper version: A van with diagnostic tools serving homes and small fleets, before renting a workshop.

9. Home care agency

Home care agencies send carers to help older and disabled people live at home. Demand is rising with Europe's ageing population.
  • Shortage: England's adult social care vacancy rate was 6.2% in 2025/26, about three times the rate in the wider economy, according to Skills for Care.
  • To run your own business: Personal care is regulated: in England you must register with the Care Quality Commission; other countries have similar licensing.
  • Bootstrapper version: Start with companionship and help at home, which usually isn't regulated, while you prepare for registration.
If you're over 50 and have caring experience, see also our business ideas for women over 50.

10. Childminding and early years

Childminders look after children in their own homes. In many places parents can't find a place, while the number of childminders keeps falling.
  • Shortage: England had 24,700 registered childminders in March 2026, down 2% in a year, and the number has been falling for over a decade, according to Ofsted.
  • Rules: Registration with Ofsted in England or a care permit from the youth office in Germany.
  • Bootstrapper version: Childminding from your own home; see the detail in our guide to small business ideas from home.
Source: Ofsted childcare statistics.
For more on running a childminding business, see our small business ideas from home for parents.

11. Catering and food production

Cooks and chefs remain in short supply, although the pressure is easing. Catering, meal preparation and small food production businesses can fill gaps for offices, events and care homes.
  • Shortage: Cooks were in shortage in 17 of 28 countries and chefs in 16, but the report notes hospitality shortages are becoming less pronounced.
  • Rules: Food businesses must register with the competent authority and follow hygiene and allergen rules.

12. IT support and software services

Small businesses need IT support, security and software help but struggle to hire. IT services can be run from home with low startup costs.
  • Shortage: In 2023, 57.5% of EU enterprises that tried to recruit ICT specialists had difficulty filling the posts, according to Eurostat.
  • Women today: Women made up 19.5% of the EU's ICT specialists in 2025, according to Eurostat.
  • Bootstrapper version: Managed IT support for small offices on monthly contracts.
For the bigger picture on women in tech, read the gender gap in tech and career progression for female developers.

Do you need a licence to run a trade business?

It depends on the country and the trade. In Germany, 53 trades listed in Annex A of the Crafts Code require a master craftsman (Meister) qualification to run a business, including electricians, plumbing and heating, roofers, joiners, vehicle mechanics, bakers and hairdressers. Experienced journeymen can often apply for an exception after six years in the trade, four of them in a leading role. In the UK, most trades aren't licensed, but gas work needs Gas Safe registration, electrical work must meet the wiring regulations and personal care must be registered with the Care Quality Commission. Check your country's rules before you invest.

How to start a business in a shortage trade

  1. Pick a trade that's short near you and that you'd enjoy for years; talk to local tradespeople about their waiting lists.
  2. Train. Apprenticeships typically take three to four years; adult routes and assessments of experience can be faster if you've worked in the field.
  3. Work for others first to learn pricing, quoting and customers.
  4. Get the licences and insurance your country requires.
  5. Start, then hire. Shortage trades often have more work than one person can do; your first apprentice is your growth plan.
If you're changing careers, check the startup allowances and safety nets you may be entitled to, such as Germany's Gründungszuschuss, in our guide to founder safety nets in Europe. Trades also lend themselves to recurring maintenance contracts, and your existing skills may shorten the learning curve.
Run your trade like a business from day one

The Fe/male Switch startup game teaches pricing, customers and planning in weekly quests, with an AI co-founder and a community of founders, so your trade becomes a company, not just a job.

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Conclusion: the best business is the one customers are queuing for

Europe's best business ideas aren't hidden in apps or trends. They're in the work nobody can find enough people to do: wiring, plumbing, heat pumps, welding, carpentry, care and childcare. Training takes time, and some trades need a master title, but the reward is a business with waiting customers, firm prices and no threat from AI. And because so few women work in these trades today, women who do stand out. For more ideas that work outside the city, see our small business ideas for rural Europe, and for trends spreading from abroad, our new business ideas.

FAQ: best business ideas

What is the best business to start in Europe in 2026?

One in a job Europe can't fill: electrical contracting, plumbing and heating, heat pump installation, welding, carpentry, roofing, tiling, vehicle repair, home care or childminding. Customers are waiting, prices are firm and AI can't do the work.

Which jobs are most in shortage in Europe?

Welders (short in 22 of 28 countries), electricians (21), plumbers and nurses (20), sheet metal workers and truck drivers (19) and care assistants (18), according to the European Labour Authority's 2025 report.

Do I need a master craftsman qualification to start a trade business in Germany?

For 53 trades, yes, including electricians, plumbing and heating, roofers and joiners. Experienced journeymen can often apply for an exception after six years in the trade, four in a leading role.

How long does it take to become an electrician?

In the UK, the Level 3 apprenticeship typically takes about four years; experienced workers can be assessed instead. In Germany, the electronics apprenticeship takes three and a half years.

Are trades a good business for women?

Yes. Demand is high and very few women work in them: about 2% of UK electricians and plumbers are women. Women who train stand out in a market with long waiting lists.

How much do electricians and plumbers earn in the UK?

Electricians charge about £50 an hour or £400 a day, and plumbers about £50 an hour or £325–375 a day, according to Checkatrade in 2026.

Is heat pump installation a good business?

Demand is growing fast: Europe needs at least 500,000 more skilled heat pump workers by 2030, and the UK's Boiler Upgrade Scheme pays £7,500 towards each air-source or ground-source installation.

What business can I start without years of training?

Home care (starting with non-regulated companionship), childminding with a short registration course, catering, and IT support if you already have the skills.
2026-10-12 20:01