Despite peaking unemployment rates caused by the economic downturn, employers are reporting difficulty finding qualified workers to fill their job openings.

According to a recent survey administered by the recruitment firm Human Capital Institute, more than half of employers said that "quality of candidates" or "availability of candidates" are their greatest challenges, even during the recession.

One human resources director in the healthcare industry said that a "nothing to lose" attitude among job seekers created a situation in which a stack of 300 resumes is laboriously whittled down to about four qualified applicants.

Rather than sending a resume to every employer with a job opening, CNN reports that recruiters are recommending that those trying to find a job should target a select list of companies and tailor their work experience to the specific responsibilities of the job they seek.

"Eighty percent of jobs are being obtained on personal referrals so candidates that are spending the bulk of their time sending their resume out blindly are not being the most fruitful," said Carolyn Thompson, president of the staffing firm CMCS.

Career aptitude tests and resume tests are also available online to focus a job-seeker's efforts.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. unemployment rate reached 9.8% in September.