Research by UWV, a Dutch provider of employee insurance plans, found that 58% of job vacancies were difficult to fill in 2022, up from 55% in 2021. In response, employers are employing several different tactics.

UWV’s study found that 87% of employers with difficult-to-fill positions leave the vacancies open longer and 69% use other recruitment channels, while 42% divide the work among other employees.

In addition, 46% of employers with vacancies that are difficult to fill opt to hire a person who does not fully meet the job requirements and train the person themselves.

Vacancies can be especially difficult to fill because of a lack of responses from applicants and, to a lesser extent, because applicants do not have the right skills, expertise or work experience.

The survey included 4,500 employers.