Thirty-four percent of employers in Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa plan to increase staffing levels in the fourth quarter, down from 45 percent in the third quarter, according to a survey by Brookfield, Wis.-based QPS Companies Inc., a privately held staffing firm. Six percent will decrease levels.

According to the survey, 42 percent of employers have open positions due to lack of skilled employees and 61 percent feel the economy is the biggest issue facing companies in the fourth quarter, up from 57 percent in the third quarter.

Forty-four percent of companies reported they are unprepared for changes from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and only 13 percent said that they are fully prepared to deal with the changes.

“As our survey illustrates, the majority of businesses will be impacted,” said Diane Gadzalinski, QPS’ director of human resources. “While many companies have done research and are preparing for the changes, there are still many variables and more information is needed to move forward.”

QPS surveyed more than 285 companies throughout the Midwest as part of its employment forecasting survey.