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Number of Employers Having a Hard Time
Finding Qualified Workers is Growing

Despite High Unemployment, Employers Can’t Fill Positions

83% Say it is somewhat/very difficult to fill positions, up from 78% last year

“Skills Gap,” Lack Of Workers Hinder Job Growth

OKLAHOMA CITY, July 9, 2014 — Express Employment Professionals, the nation’s largest franchised staffing firm, today released findings that reveal it is still difficult for employers to fill open positions, despite high unemployment.

In total, 83 percent of Express franchises said it was “somewhat difficult” or “very difficult,” compared to 78 percent in 2013.

The findings come from the 2014 survey of 115 Express franchises across the nation.

For the second year in a row, franchises reported difficulty filling positions. Twenty-five percent said it is “very difficult” to fill positions, while 58 percent report it’s “somewhat difficult.” Only 17 percent said it is “somewhat easy.” No one believed it was “very easy” to recruit and fill positions.

When asked the “primary reason that your open jobs are not filled,” 52 percent of respondents said a “lack of available applicants.” Respondents continue to blame the lack of workers and a mismatch between what employers are looking for and what employees expect. There is a “skills gap” between the skills employers seek and the skills prospective employees possess.

“I’m sure it will surprise most Americans to hear that employers are having trouble finding the right talent,” said Bob Funk, CEO of Express, and a former chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. “Because of the skills gap, the unemployment rate is still higher than it should be.

“My advice to employers is to recognize that you won’t always find the perfect fit – at least in the short term. As a country, we need more training and re-training for workers, so that Americans who are unemployed can be more competitive and fill the positions that are available. That’s critical to lowering unemployment.”

Full results for both 2014 and 2013 are below.

Currently, how easy is it for you to recruit and fill positions?
  2014 2013
Very easy 0% 1%
Somewhat easy 17% 19%
Somewhat difficult 58% 66%
Very difficult 25% 12%
I don’t know 0% 1%
     
What is the primary reason that your open jobs are not filled?
  2014 2013
Lack of available applicants 52% 46%
Not enough pay offered 13% 15%
Lack of experience 10% 12%
Lack of hard skills 10% 13%
Other 8% 9%
Lack of soft skills 4% 3%
Client location 3% 0%
Unwilling to work part-time or temp roles 1% 2%
     

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If you would like to arrange for an interview with Bob Funk to discuss this topic, please contact Sherry Kast at (405) 717-5966.

 

About Robert A. Funk
Robert A. “Bob” Funk is chairman and chief executive officer of Express Employment Professionals. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, the international staffing company has 700 franchises in the U.S., Canada and South Africa. Under his leadership, Express has put more than five million people to work worldwide. Funk served as the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and was also the Chairman of the Conference of Chairmen of the Federal Reserve.

About Express Employment Professionals
Express Employment Professionals puts people to work. It generated more than $2.5 billion in temporary sales and employed nearly 400,000 people in 2013, and ranks as the largest franchised staffing company and second largest privately held staffing company in the United States. Its long-term goal is to put a million people to work annually.