Surging demand for labour has deepened the shortage of skilled workers across 286 occupations ranging from chemical engineers to abattoir workers, in a new finding that will intensify calls for more investment in skills policy when federal and state ministers meet on Friday.

The list of skills shortages has increased to 31 per cent of occupations assessed by federal authorities to guide employment policy, up from 19 per cent of job types one year ago.

With employers advertising 301,000 job vacancies in August, up by 37 per cent on the same month last year, the labour shortage is turning into a pressure point in the October 25 budget when the federal government is trying to negotiate a funding deal with the states.