Survey Reveals 10 Hardest Jobs To Fill

If you’re an engineer, a nurse, or a skilled laborer – you could be in luck. According to a recent survey by Manpower, Inc. these are among the nation’s hardest jobs to fill.

“In the four years we have performed this research, the same positions appear on the list again and again,“ said Jonas Prising, president of the Americas for Manpower. “Despite the current economic instability and high unemployment, there are still skills that the U.S. workforce seems to lack.“The 10 Hardest Jobs to Fill, as reported by U.S. employers for 2009, are:

1. Engineers
2. Nurses
3. Skilled/Manual Trades
4. Teachers
5. Sales Representatives
6. Technicians
7. Drivers
8. IT Staff
9. Laborers
10. Machinist/Machine Operators

Each of those 10 types of jobs on this year’s list have appeared on the list in years past. Technicians, machinists/ machine operators and sales reps. have been on the list for all four years. Engineers, drivers and laborers have been there three out of four years and nurses, teachers, skilled/ manual trades and IT staff have been on the list two out of the last four years that this survey has been performed.

During a time where unemployment is so high, this survey could help point people in possible career changes.

“While talk has slowed in the U.S. about the pending talent shortage, it is becoming more clear that there is a talent disconnect,“ said Melanie Holmes, vice president, world of work solutions for Manpower North America. “Our workforce needs to be more open to retraining and upskilling for jobs that are in demand. And, our government, business leaders and educational facilities need to take action together to ensure students are being enticed to enter these fields.“

The U.S. findings are part of a Manpower global study that surveyed more than 39,000 employers across 33 countries and territories in January 2009. Positions in the skilled trades, sales, technical work and engineering remain the most difficult for employers to fill globally. Manpower surveyed more than 2,000 U.S. employers in the fourth annual survey to determine which positions employers are having difficulty filling this year.

Survey information provided by Manpower, Inc.