About 70 percent of readers in a recent MDM survey said they had plans to hire in 2013 due to growth in their businesses, new initiatives and the need to replace retirees. But many cited challenges in finding qualified candidates to fill positions. According to industry HR experts, part of the challenge is in recognizing that a high unemployment rate does not always mean that a high number of qualified candidates are looking for work. This article looks at the recent MDM survey and provides insight on the current talent market.

The recession cost many distributors a couple of years of sales growth, and many have just recently returned to pre-recession levels.

During the recession, many distributors were forced to cut staff. Even those who were able to avoid layoffs worked to do more with less so they wouldn’t have to hire as they climbed out of the recession.

Industrial distributor Western Tool & Supply, Livermore, CA, was one of many distributors that invested in …