About 70% of employers in Huron, Perth, Bruce and Grey Counties feel the availability of qualified workers is fair or poor.
The Four County Labour Market Planning Board has released the results of its latest employer survey.
In agriculture and construction, 80% of employers reported the availability of qualified workers is fair or poor.
The survey reports that 75% of respondents in the accommodation, food services and manufacturing sector felt the same way.
Nearly 3,100 new jobs were created last year in a wide range of occupations with about half of them being full time.
However, most of those jobs required less formal skills.
Of the 352 businesses, 202 found some positions hard to fill.
74% of respondents offered ongoing training and education for their workers.
About 1,300 people quit their job or retired in 2015.
