Employers are still facing skills shortages despite the recession dramatically cutting back the number of jobs available – which is good news for jobseekers.

Manpower’s annual talent shortage survey reveals 11 percent of employers do not think they will find the employees they need compared to 12 percent last year.

The figures are improvements on 2007 and 2006 when 34 percent and 42 percent of employers cited difficulties recruiting staff with the right skills, however professionals can breathe a sigh of relief that they may still be in demand at many companies recruiting right now.

Independent research of more than 2,200 UK employers reveals the most difficult positions to fill are: engineers, skilled trades, sales representatives and management / executives. For the first time, engineers tops the poll while skilled trades still rank highly in second place. Sales representatives have moved back into the top three for the first time since the survey began in 2006.

Machine operators and technicians enter the top 10 for the first time, restaurant and hotel staff re-enter the chart for the first time since 2006. Nurses have drop out of the Top 10 in 2009 despite the NHS’s need for specialist positions.

Mark Cahill, Managing Director of Manpower UK, said: "Despite the highest levels of unemployment the UK has experienced for over a decade, employers are still struggling to recruit people with the skills they require.

"In this climate employers can afford to be very specific when looking to hire new staff and therefore companies are demanding more from employees, for example a PA may now need to have accounting or language skills to be considered for a role when traditionally these skills would not have been essential to secure employment."