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Psychologist

Also called psychology researcher, occupational psychologist, expert counselling psychologist

Psychologists study the behaviour and mental processes in humans. They provide services to clients who deal with mental health issues and life issues such as bereavement, relationship difficulties, domestic violence, and sexual abuse. They also provide counselling for mental health issues such as eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorders, and psychosis in order to help the clients rehabilitate and reach a healthy behaviour.

Will there be jobs?Yes, good prospectsShortage in 10 countries now. 33 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Legal, social and cultural professionalsWhat does it pay?Above averageFrom about €1,800 (Bulgaria) to €8,800 (Luxembourg) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Legal, social and cultural professionalsWhat do I need to study?Usually a degree9 in 10 have a degree.Legal, social and cultural professionalsWill AI change it?In some tasksLevel 3 of 6. AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.Psychologists · ILO

What you'd do

Psychologists · ILO
  • Planning and carrying out tests to measure mental, physical and other characteristics such as intelligence, abilities, aptitudes, potentialities, etc., interpreting and evaluating results, and providing advice
  • Analysing the effect of heredity, social, occupational and other factors on individual thought and behaviour
  • Conducting counselling or therapeutic interviews with individuals and groups, and providing follow-up services
  • Maintaining required contacts, such as those with family members, educational authorities or employers, and recommending possible solutions to, and treatment of, problems
  • Studying psychological factors in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental illnesses and emotional or personality disorders, and conferring with related professionals
  • Preparing scholarly papers and reports
  • Formulating achievement, diagnostic and predictive tests for use by teachers in planning methods and content of instruction
  • Conducting surveys and research studies on job design, work groups, morale, motivation, supervision and management
  • Developing theories, models and methods to interpret and describe human behaviour
Work in a multicultural environment in health careListen activelyIdentify mental health issuesWork with patterns of psychological behaviourDiagnose psychiatric symptoms+ 47 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • Sitting most of the day
  • Constant contact with people
  • Good freedom to decide
  • Usually 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines most weeks
  • Varied tasks, little repetition
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Clinical and Counseling Psychologists"

Will there be jobs?

Yes, good prospects

10 EU countries are short of psychologists now, and a typical number of jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as legal, social and cultural professionals in the EU
5.41m6.54m7.02m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
354,000 new jobs 1,872,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Legal, social and cultural professionals33
All jobs29
Right now
10 of 27 countries report a shortage of psychologists, 5 a surplus.
Psychologists · EURES

What does it pay?

Above average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,800 a month (Bulgaria) to €8,800 (Luxembourg), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among professionals in the EU, women earn 21% less per hour than men. Professionals · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Usually a degree

A degree in psychology is the usual route.

Highest qualification of legal, social and cultural professionals (EU, 2025)
Degree 87%Vocational 6%General secondary 5%Basic schooling 2%
Fields that teach it
Psychology · Social work and counselling
Vocational route, EU
1 in 10 trainees in this field
Social science graduates in a matching job
59% in the EU

927 institutions in the EU offer social science bachelor's degrees. Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

In some tasks

AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.39 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 9 tasks
Conducting surveys and research studies on job design, work groups, morale, motivation, supervision and management0.68
Preparing scholarly papers and reports0.54
Developing theories, models and methods to interpret and describe human behaviour0.37
Formulating achievement, diagnostic and predictive tests for use by teachers in planning methods and content of instruction0.36
Analysing the effect of heredity, social, occupational and other factors on individual thought and behaviour0.36
Planning and carrying out tests to measure mental, physical and other characteristics such as intelligence, abilities, aptitudes, potentialities, etc., interpreting and evaluating results, and providing advice0.35
Studying psychological factors in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental illnesses and emotional or personality disorders, and conferring with related professionals0.30
Conducting counselling or therapeutic interviews with individuals and groups, and providing follow-up services0.28
Maintaining required contacts, such as those with family members, educational authorities or employers, and recommending possible solutions to, and treatment of, problems0.26

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for psychologists. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).