Most countries with sensible work visas have a point system. Make candidates self-asses and file the application, bucket them into tiers and if you still really want to roll the dice then assign spots to particular tiers.
Japan is a great example. They have a wide range of visas. From unskilled worker visas without possibility of obtaining residency (I think there will be a new one with the possibility, but can be wrong), to a couple of different skilled worker visas to the "high-end" highly skilled foreign professional (HSFP).
For HSFP you get points for years of experience in the field, age, salary, etc so you can bring a whole range of people.
And they keep innovating in the space. They asses what they need and tweak the program accordingly.