Recent data from Eurostat highlight a growing labor challenge across the European Union, particularly in the manufacturing sector. Between 2019 and 2023, job vacancies in manufacturing jumped sharply, from 6.52% before the pandemic to 10.74% in 2023, marking the largest increase among all EU economic sectors. This trend points to a significant staffing deficit in an area critical for industrial output. Overall, the EU labor market also experienced a moderate rise in unmet demand, with vacancies