A new Eurobarometer survey released today shows that nearly half of European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) (46%) face difficulties in finding workers with the right skills. According to the survey, the recruitment of non-EU nationals remains limited. “One in seven small and medium-sized enterprises have attempted hiring workers outside the EU in the past two years. Among those that have recruited non-EU nationals (14% of the sample), 54% described the recruitment process as difficult”. The complexity of administrative and immigration procedures “is the most frequently cited barrier (31%), followed by difficulty finding suitable candidates (25%) and overcoming the language barriers (24%)”. According to the survey, most companies (85% to 90%) directly manage the recruitment of workers from outside the EU. “There is limited awareness among SMEs of public support for international recruitment”. The use of private recruitment agencies is significantly higher for international recruitment. The companies consulted suggest that “hiring outside the EU could be improved through financial support (31%), information and guidance (25%), assistance in finding candidates (23%), help with workplace integration (20%), and immigration and relocation support (18%)”.