From St Louis Public Radio

Although St. Louis has an unemployment rate below the national average, area employers are struggling to find candidates who meet their needs, according to a survey by the St. Louis Regional Chamber.

The chamber on Thursday announced findings from the “Bridging the Talent Gap”survey. Among 289 respondents, 94 percent said they are hiring for full-time positions. However, 75 percent of them said they were finding it difficult to recruit certain positions — mostly requiring highly skilled workers.

“The St. Louis region needs more in-depth and meaningful collaboration between higher-education institutions and businesses,” said St. Louis Regional Chamber CEO and President Tom Chulick. “We want students to know where our high-wage jobs are, what kind of industries are hiring, and how our local colleges, universities and training programs can get them there.”