Skills required by roles may have changed when unemployed Americans apply for positions in their own field.

This is according to the Associated Press, which noted the jobs crisis has seen individuals discovering they are no longer qualified to fill openings in their sector, particularly as companies have assigned new duties to members of staff as a result of cost-cutting.

Writer Christopher Rugaber explained new requirements may include database administrators being required to manage network security or factory assembly workers programming computers that operate machinery.

He suggested: "The broader responsibilities mean it's harder to fill many of the jobs that are open these days."

This, Mr Rugaber, may explain why many firms claim to be suffering skills shortages despite relatively high numbers of jobseekers competing for positions, with many turning to those already in work to find the right employees.

Latest employment data for September 2010 in the US showed a 95,000 drop in overall non-farm payroll employment caused by a decline of 159,000 in public sector jobs, while private sector roles rose by 64,000 during the month.

Posted by Fiona Summers