Engineering jobs have been the most difficult positions for employers to fill in this country in 2008, according to a survey released Tuesday by Manpower Inc.

They're followed by: machinists/machine operators; skilled trades; technicians; sales representatives; accounting/finance staff; mechanics; laborers; IT staff; and production operators, according to the employment services company.

"From our research it is clear that across the country employers are experiencing a mismatch between the talent their businesses need and the skills and abilities potential employees possess," Jonas Prising, president of Manpower North America, said in a news release.
Engineers weren't even on the Top 10 hard-to-fill list in 2007, but were No. 2 in 2006, the first year of the sampling.

Manpower surveyed 2,000 American employers this year to come up with the findings.

Why do the survey?
"I guess it's two-fold: one is an opportunity to share information with the people we do business with, let them know some of the trends we're seeing," said Manpower spokesman Paul Holley. The aim also is to "communicate with people who are out there in the marketplace looking for work, to let them know what employers are seeking."