shortage

shortage
short‧age /ˈʃɔːtɪdʒ $ ˈʃɔːr-/ noun [uncountable and countable]a situation in which there is not enough of something that people need
   SYN  lack
    shortage of
    a shortage of skilled labour
    There is no shortage of funds.
     

COLLOCATIONS

■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + shortage
   ▪ a severe/serious shortage There is a serious shortage of food in some areas.
   ▪ an acute shortage (=very bad) They were suffering because of an acute shortage of doctors and nurses.
   ▪ a desperate/dire shortage (=very serious and worrying) There is a desperate shortage of fresh water in the disaster area.
   ▪ a chronic shortage (=very bad and existing for a long time) There is a chronic shortage of housing in rural areas.
   ▪ a growing shortage (=one that is increasing) The United States is facing a growing shortage of information technology workers.
   ▪ a general shortage (=a shortage of lots of different kinds of things or people) There was a general shortage of skilled workers.
   ▪ a national/world shortage There is likely to be a world shortage of timber in the future.
   ▪ a water/food/housing etc shortage The water shortage was reaching crisis proportions.
   ▪ a labour/manpower shortage (=a shortage of people to do work) During the war, there was a severe labour shortage, so women began doing jobs they had never done before.
   ▪ a staff shortage (=a shortage of people to work at a particular business) The company blamed staff shortages for the delays.
■ verbs
   ▪ create/cause a shortage Poor harvests could cause food shortages in the winter.
   ▪ lead to/result in a shortage The strike led to serious shortages of fuel in some areas.
   ▪ face a shortage (=be likely to suffer a shortage) The refugees face desperate shortages of food and water.
   ▪ ease a shortage (=make it less serious) Building more houses will ease the shortage of accommodation.