Forty-one percent of American employers report having difficulties in filling jobs due to lack of available talent, according to a new survey by ManpowerGroup (NYSE: MAN). This is the highest proportion of employers reporting difficulty since the start of the global economic downturn in 2008.

Despite this, employers are less concerned about the impact talent shortages have on key stakeholders than a year ago, with 58 percent believing the talent shortage will have little or no impact, up from 38 percent in 2011.

Engineering roles were most difficult to fill across the Americas, according to the survey.

Globally, 34 percent of employers report challenges around locating skilled workers, while 56 percent of employers indicated that unfilled positions are expected to have little or no impact on constituents, such as customers and investors.

"Talent shortages are endemic but employers have gotten used to doing more with less and hesitate to hire until they see demand and can find talent with the specific skills they need," said Jeffrey A. Joerres, ManpowerGroup chairman and CEO. "Surprisingly, employers are now less concerned about the impact of these shortages on customers and investors, a perspective which signals acceptance of the new normal.”

ManpowerGroup surveyed nearly 40,000 employers in 41 countries and territories during the first quarter of 2012. This is the seventh consecutive year that the survey has been conducted.