MILWAUKEE, May 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- ManpowerGroup (NYSE: MAN), the world's workforce expert, today released the company's ninth annual Talent Shortage Survey results, revealing global employers continue to be plagued by talent shortages.

ManpowerGroup's survey of more than 37,000 employers in 42 countries and territories found that 36 percent of global employers are having difficulty finding candidates with the right skills to fill open positions.

"Talent shortages continue to persist and are impeding employers' ability to deliver value for their customers," said Jonas Prising, ManpowerGroup CEO. "Due to the lack of applicants with the right technical competencies, experience and soft skills, one out of three employers struggle to fill open roles. For nearly a decade skilled trades and STEM positions are among the top 10 hardest jobs to fill, both globally and in the U.S."

The top 10 hardest jobs to fill globally and in the U.S. are:

ManpowerGroup 2014 Talent Shortage Survey Key Findings:

• Thirty-six percent of global employers are having difficulty filling jobs. This percentage has increased for the second consecutive year and is at its highest level since 2007.
• More than 50 percent of global employers reporting talent shortages say the shortages significantly impact their ability to meet client needs. Forty percent of employers say shortages reduce their competitiveness / productivity.
• Among the U.S. employers surveyed, 40 percent report difficulty filling positions. For the fifth consecutive year, skilled trades positions are the most difficult jobs to fill. Restaurant and hotel positions are in second place — the first time these jobs have been part of the Top 10 since 2010. Sales representative roles dropped from second to third on the list.
• Almost half of employers who are addressing talent shortages are doing so through alternative people practices (i.e. training and development for existing staff, utilizing non-traditional or new recruitment practices). One in four employers is exploring new talent sources. In addition, 23 percent are implementing alternative work models (including increasing the focus on their talent pipeline, redesigning current work procedures, or integrating contingent workers).
• More than one in five (22 percent) employers who are experiencing talent shortages are not presently pursuing strategies to address such shortages. This is unchanged from 2013.
• Employers in Japan report the greatest talent shortages globally (81 percent). Acute shortages were also reported in Peru, India, Argentina, Brazil and Turkey.

For more details on the talent shortage around the world, visit our new Talent Shortage Interactive Explorer Tool and download our global infographic. Talent shortage data specific to the U.S. can be found here.

About ManpowerGroup

ManpowerGroup™ (NYSE: MAN) has been the world's workforce expert, creating innovative workforce solutions, for more than 65 years. As workforce experts, we connect more than 600,000 men and women to meaningful work across a wide range of skills and industries every day. Through our ManpowerGroup family of brands — Manpower®, Experis™, Right Management ® and ManpowerGroup™ Solutions— we help more than 400,000 clients in 80 countries and territories address their critical talent needs, providing comprehensive solutions to resource, manage and develop talent. In 2014, ManpowerGroup was named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for the fourth consecutive year and one of Fortune's Most Admired Companies, confirming our position as the most trusted and admired brand in the industry. See how ManpowerGroup makes powering the world of work humanly possible: www.manpowergroup.com.

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SOURCE ManpowerGroup