Companies in the Midwest are more open to training skilled employees as the labor market continues to tighten, according to a quarterly employment survey by QPS Employment Group, a privately held staffing firm based in Brookfield, Wis.

The survey found 56 percent of companies will increase hiring levels and 71 percent are willing to train employees. Sixty percent said a lack of qualified employees is the biggest issue facing companies.

“It is evident from our survey that many local companies do have job openings, but are struggling to find quality candidates," said QPS President Scott Mayer. "In these times of tighter candidate pools, companies need to consider training solid candidates who may not have all the skills desired, but are quality candidates with the ability to learn.”

Survey results include:

Hiring trends:

• 56 percent will increase levels
• 9 percent will decrease levels
• 35 percent will remain the same

Business in the fourth quarter:

• 39 percent expect business to improve
• 49 percent think that it will remain the same
• 12 percent anticipate business to decline

Wages:

• 24 percent will increase wages
• 2 percent will decrease wages
• 74 percent will stay the same

Biggest issues facing companies:

• Lack of qualified employees: 60 percent
• Healthcare/insurance costs: 37 percent
• The economy: 34 percent
• Government regulations: 13 percent
• Material costs: 13 percent

QPS surveyed 241 companies from the manufacturing and service sectors throughout Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri in October of 2014.