Business Insider (03/26/12) Matt Ferguson

A survey by CareerBuilder, an ASA corporate partner, suggests that the skills gap explains in part why some positions remain open for months when more than 12 million people are unemployed. Ferguson says the downward trend in work force mobility also has played a role, citing U.S. Census Bureau data indicating that Americans changing residences fell to a more than 60-year low in 2011.

However, a survey by CareerBuilder and CareerRelocate.com found that 44% of workers would relocate to take advantage of a job opportunity. Some 20% of workers laid off in 2011 who found new jobs relocated to a new city or state. Research indicates that employers looking for workers in engineering, information technology, business development, sales, finance, marketing, and legal services are more likely to cover relocation expenses.