occupational therapist
Snapshot
Do you want a career helping people regain independence and participate fully in life? As an occupational therapist, you’ll empower individuals to overcome challenges and achieve their goals through tailored therapies and rehabilitation.
Occupational therapists work with individuals and groups facing limitations due to illness, injury, or disability. Your daily work involves assessing their needs, developing personalized treatment plans, and guiding them through activities designed to improve their ability to perform everyday tasks. This could range from assisting someone recovering from a stroke to helping a child with developmental delays, or supporting an adult adjusting to a mental health condition. You’ll focus on enabling people to live fulfilling lives and engage in activities that are meaningful to them.
- • Conduct comprehensive assessments to identify occupational limitations and strengths.
- • Develop and implement individualized treatment plans based on assessment findings.
- • Guide patients through therapeutic activities to improve motor skills, cognitive function, and daily living skills.
Where this occupation is in demand
Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
Deeper colour: reported the same way in more consecutive years.
Figures cover Health professionals — 68 jobs including this one.
In shortage: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Estonia and 6 more.
Longest-running shortage: Belgium, 3 years.
Where it is regulated, your qualification would need formal recognition before you could practise.
Select a place on the map to see its figures.
About this source›
Source: ELA/EURES labour shortages and surpluses. Readings are published at occupation-group level, and cover Europe. Editions differ in annex layout and country coverage, so a change between years does not always mean the labour market changed. Countries in grey were not reported, which is not the same as being in balance.
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Could occupational therapist fit you?
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Do you enjoy tasks that require Cooperation?
Do you enjoy tasks that require Concern for Others?
Do you enjoy tasks that require Dependability?
Future Outlook for occupational therapist
The outlook for occupational therapist is exceptionally stable. While AI tools will assist with daily tasks, the core of this role relies on human judgment, resulting in a high resilience score of 81%.
How are these scores calculated?
The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.
How could occupational therapist change as AI adoption grows?
Human judgement, trust, and context remain strong protectors for this role.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
How could occupational therapist change as AI adoption grows?
Human judgement, trust, and context remain strong protectors for this role.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
How AI may change this role
Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.
What still depends on people
- develop a rehabilitation programme
- contribute to continuity of health care
- empathise with the healthcare user
Where AI may become a co-pilot
- perform patient activity analyses
- assess risks for the elderly
- use e-health and mobile health technologies
Tasks most exposed to automation
- record healthcare users' progress related to treatment
- manage healthcare users' data
Vital Signs & AI Vectors
AI Exposure Vectors
0-100%Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks
Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools
Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation
Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement
Technical Details
NexFuture v3.0 estimates automation exposure natively from ESCO essential-skill groups, weighted by skill mass and calibrated against expert anchors. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture Methodology White Paper for full details.
Measures automation exposure. It does not measure pay, demand, or how many jobs exist near you.
What people in this role usually do
Healthcare & Human Services
A typical day as a occupational therapist
09 09:00 · Morning advise on environmental alterations
10 10:30 · Mid-morning identify the healthcare user’s personal capacity
12 12:00 · Midday provide assistive technology
14 14:00 · Afternoon use computer programs to improve patients' skills
15 15:30 · Late afternoon advise healthcare users on occupational health
17 17:00 · Wrap-up advise on healthcare users' informed consent
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
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community-based rehabilitation
The method of rehabilitation which involves the creation of social programs for the impaired or disabled persons to allow them integration into the community.
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occupational health
The subfield of study of public health that focus on improving the wellbeing of individuals in the workplace for all the occupational profiles. It is concerned with health and safety in the workplace and prevention of hazards.
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occupational science
The study of everyday activity including the behaviours, characteristics, and patterns of behaviour and productivity.
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physical medicine
The diagnosis and treatment methods applied to individuals with physical impairments or disabilities in order to help them restore their body functions lost because of medical injuries or medical diseases.
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professional documentation in health care
The written standards applied in the health care professional environments for documentation purposes of one`s activity.
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vocational rehabilitation
The rehabilitation process of persons with functional, psychological, developmental, cognitive and emotional impairments or health disabilities to overcome barriers to accessing, maintaining or returning to employment or other useful occupation.
- ergonomics
- general medicine
- geriatrics
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inform policy makers on health-related challenges
Provide useful information related to health care professions to ensure policy decisions are made in the benefit of communities.
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provide nursing advice on healthcare
Give advice to, instruct and support persons needing nursing care and their attachment figures.
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encourage healthcare user's self-monitoring
Encourage the healthcare user to engage in self-monitoring by conducting situational and developmental analyses on him- or herself. Assist the healthcare user to develop a degree of self-critique and self-analysis in regards to his behaviour, actions, relationships and self-awareness.
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advise on healthcare users' informed consent
Ensure patients/clients are fully informed about the risks and benefits of proposed treatments so they can give informed consent, engaging patients/clients in the process of their care and treatment.
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instruct on the use of special equipment for daily activities
Instruct on how to use specialised equipment such as wheelchairs and eating aids in their daily activities.
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advise on environmental alterations
Advise on environmental alterations in the home and workplace to accommodate patients, such as wheelchair accessibility.
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develop a rehabilitation programme
Develop a rehabilitation programme to help patients rebuild their skills and restore their confidence.
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apply techniques of occupational therapy
Apply occupational therapy techniques, such as retraining, and splinting in the rehabilitation and recovery of patients, and advising patients on their daily activities.
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create individual treatment programmes
Develop treatment programmes to suit each individual patient, helping patients achieve more independence and confidence in their daily lives.
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remediate healthcare user's occupational performance
Remediate or restore the cognitive, sensorimotor, or psychosocial components of the healthcare user`s occupational performance.
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comply with quality standards related to healthcare practice
Apply quality standards related to risk management, safety procedures, patients feedback, screening and medical devices in daily practice, as they are recognized by the national professional associations and authorities.
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comply with legislation related to health care
Comply with the regional and national health legislation which regulates relations between suppliers, payers, vendors of the healthcare industry and patients, and the delivery of healthcare services.
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ensure safety of healthcare users
Make sure that healthcare users are being treated professionally, effectively and safe from harm, adapting techniques and procedures according to the person's needs, abilities or the prevailing conditions.
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educate on the prevention of illness
Offer evidence-based advice on how to avoid ill health, educate and advise individuals and their carers on how to prevent ill health and/or be able to advise how to improve their environment and health conditions. Provide advice on the identification of risks leading to ill health and help to increase the patients' resilience by targeting prevention and early intervention strategies.
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provide health education
Provide evidence based strategies to promote healthy living, disease prevention and management.
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use e-health and mobile health technologies
Use mobile health technologies and e-health (online applications and services) in order to enhance the provided healthcare.
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use computer programs to improve patients' skills
Use specialised computer programs to help patients improve skills they use in their daily lives, working on decision-making, abstract reasoning, memory, sequencing, coordination, problem-solving, and perceptual skills.
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record healthcare users' progress related to treatment
Record the healthcare user's progress in response to treatment by observing, listening and measuring outcomes.
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manage healthcare users' data
Keep accurate client records which also satisfy legal and professional standards and ethical obligations in order to facilitate client management, ensuring that all clients' data (including verbal, written and electronic) are treated confidentially.
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undertake healthcare examination
Assess the healthcare user's physical state, taking detailed information on previous injuries, surgery, general health, resources and lifestyle into account.
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identify the healthcare user’s personal capacity
Identify the healthcare user's personal capacity to act in all spheres of life taking account of environmental factors with regard to the social, cultural, physical and institutional setting, identifying biomechanical, motoric, sensory/perceptive, cognitive and psychosocial skills and competences of the healthcare user.
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follow clinical guidelines
Follow agreed protocols and guidelines in support of healthcare practice which are provided by healthcare institutions, professional associations, or authorities and also scientific organisations.
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promote inclusion
Promote and respect diversity, and advocate for equal treatment of genders, ethnicities and minority groups in organisations in order to prevent discrimination and ensure inclusion and a positive environment.
Skill DNA
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Where does occupational therapist fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
Frequently asked questions
- What types of settings do occupational therapists typically work in?
- Occupational therapists are employed in a variety of settings, including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, schools, community health centers, nursing homes, and mental health facilities. They may also work in people’s homes or provide outreach services to vulnerable populations like asylum seekers and those experiencing homelessness.
- Is it common to work in private practice as an occupational therapist?
- While most occupational therapists are employed by healthcare organizations, establishing a private practice is also a common career path, offering greater autonomy and the opportunity to specialize in specific areas of practice.
- What skills are particularly important for success as an occupational therapist?
- Beyond clinical knowledge, successful occupational therapists demonstrate strong communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills. Empathy, patience, and the ability to adapt treatment approaches to meet diverse individual needs are also crucial. The key work styles associated with this role include detail orientation, methodical approach, adaptability, and a focus on achieving results, while key values include a commitment to fairness, social responsibility, and a desire to help others.
- Occupational Therapist — is there a shortage in Europe?
- Yes. In the 2025 ELA/EURES edition, a shortage was reported in 10 of the 11 European countries that assessed this occupation group: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany and 6 more. Belgium has reported one for 3 consecutive years. These assessments are published per occupation group rather than per job title.
- Occupational Therapist — what does it pay in the United States?
- $98,340 a year at the median, as of 2025-05. State medians run from $51,850 to $124,510. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is a United States figure and not a projection for Europe.
- Occupational Therapist — is it a regulated profession?
- It is listed as a regulated profession in 28 European countries: Sweden, Slovenia, Latvia, Czechia and 24 more. The lowest qualification level required among them is EQF 4. Where a profession is regulated, a qualification earned elsewhere has to be formally recognised before you can practise. Source: EU Regulated Professions Database.