Despite relatively high levels of joblessness in Estonia, one executive has declared he is struggling to recruit talented staff members.

Lembit Lump, chairman of building components producer Kodumaja, told financial newspaper Aripaev that finding good employees has become very hard and "80 to 90 per cent of the people who turn up for a job interview are persons whom you have no motivation to interview".

He explained that, although he has appointed more than 30 members of staff this year, there is a "lack of quality skilled workers" and suitable candidates with the right attitudes.

Mr Lump complained of applicants turning up drunk, having unrealistic salary expectations and being deficient in motivation - comments that were echoed by chief executive of footwear company Samelin Leida Kikka, who said finding good staff is difficult.

A report from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development published this month called upon the Estonian government to find new ways of tackling problems relating to unemployment, rising poverty levels and a growing pensioner population.

Posted by Alex Donnell