Investopedia: The Job Market Hurts Companies, Too

Economists can talk at length about the different types of unemployment, but papers and theories don't help those seeking jobs or employees in the short term. One of the distressing parts of the current unemployment environment is that the workers are there and the jobs are there, but there are serious mismatches in terms of skills and availability. While unemployment is often talked about in the context of the negative effects on the workers, the inability to fill vacancies is a major threat to companies, as well.

Caterpillar Frames the Problem 

About a month ago, the CEO of a large U.S. manufacturing company, Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT), highlighted the problem; CAT had openings for workers, but they simply could not find the skilled labor they needed. That left the company with a host of less-than-perfect choices: move the jobs overseas (and risk the wrath of politicians and the public), hire whomever they can get and train them (and risk seeing them walk before earning back the cost of that training), or simply try to get more out of their existing labor force and look to automate wherever possible.

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http://stocks.investopedia.com/stock-analysis/2011/The-Job-Market-Hurts-Companies-Too-CAT-BA-SI-APOL-MCD-MSFT-GE1006.aspx