Forty-nine percent of US companies are having a hard time filling what workforce management firm ManpowerGroup calls mission-critical positions within their organizations with IT staff, engineers and "skilled trades" among the toughest spots to fill.

The group surveyed some 1,300 employers and noted that US companies are struggling to find talent, despite continued high unemployment, over their global counterparts, where 34% of employers worldwide are having difficulty filling positions.

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According to ManpowerGroup, the most common reasons employers say they are having trouble filling jobs, including lack of available applicants, applicants looking for more pay and lack of experience.

In the United States, the top 10 hardest jobs to fill include:

1. Skilled Trades

2. Engineers

3. IT Staff

4. Sales Representatives

5. Accounting & Finance Staff

6. Drivers

7. Mechanics

8. Nurses

9. Machinists/Machine Operators

10. Teachers

US Hardest Jobs to Fill in 2011

1. Skilled Trades

2. Sales Representatives

3. Engineers

4. Drivers

5. Accounting & Finance Staff

6. IT Staff

7. Management/Executives

8. Teachers

9. Secretaries/Administrative Assistants

10. Machinist/Machine Operator

Across the globe, employers having the most difficulty finding the right people to fill jobs are located in Japan (81%), Brazil (71%), Bulgaria (51%), Australia (50%), USA (49%), India (48%), New Zealand (48%), Taiwan (47%), Panama (47%), Romania (45%), Argentina (45%), Mexico (43%) and Germany (42%). Talent shortages are least problematic in Ireland and the Netherlands, ManpowerGroup found.

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