Skilled trades jobs are hardest to fill, ManpowerGroup says

Skilled trade vacancies ranked as the hardest-to-fill jobs in the US for the seventh consecutive year, according to ManpowerGroup’s (NYSE: MAN) 11th annual talent shortage survey. In addition to the US, skilled trades roles also ranked as the hardest jobs to fill on a global basis — for the fifth consecutive year.

“Low unemployment paired with shorter skills cycles due to the speed of technological change means employers across the United States are struggling to fill positions,” said Kip Wright, senior VP of Manpower North America. “We see this particularly in industries like manufacturing, construction, transportation and education. When the talent isn’t available, organizations need to turn to training and developing their own people — and in many cases this means first identifying the skills that will be required in increasingly digital industries, like manufacturing.”

Among the US employers surveyed, 46% reported difficulty filling positions, significant increase from 32% reported in 2015. Globally, employers reported the most acute talent shortage since 2007. The survey found 40% of global employers have difficulty finding candidates with the right skills to fill open positions, up from 38% in 2015.

The hardest jobs to fill in the US included: