The embodiment of the invention discloses a gear shifting control method and a controller applied to engineering machinery. The gear shifting control method applied to engineering machinery comprises the following steps of: receiving a gear shifting signal from an electric control handle of the engineering machinery by using a controller; acquiring the current rotating speed value of an engine of the engineering machinery; acquiring a transition calibrated rotating speed value of a target gear according to the target gear indicated by the gear shifting signal; comparing the current rotating speed value with the transition calibrated rotating speed value; and if the current rotating speed value is greater than the transition calibrated rotating speed value, controlling the rotating speed of the engine to the transition calibrated rotating speed value, and controlling the rotating speed of the engine to the current rotating speed value when a speed change clutch of the engineering machinery finishes a gear shifting action indicated by the gear shifting signal. According to the technical scheme provided by the embodiment of the invention, the working life of the speed change clutch in the engineering machinery can be prolonged effectively.