Special Segment: Now Hiring

November 6, 2011 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- There's new information from the government this weekend that nearly one-third of America's unemployed have had no job for a year or more.

But there are fields where employers are searching for potential workers.

Bertrand Murell didn't think he would be walking anywhere after surgery and infection landed him in the ICU, but on this day, he's going home thanks to the gains he's made in physical therapy. It's a nice accomplishment for his physical therapist Hyosub Kim, who is in his final year of the doctoral program at University of Illinois at Chicago.

Kim is a Juilliard-trained jazz musician who discovered the recovery possible from PT for his back pain. Kim also saw a second career option -- a career that is proving to be in high demand.

"It's a complete 180 from being a freelance musician because there's no job security there," Kims aid.

One hundred percent of UIC's physical therapy doctoral students are employed within six months of graduation.

"Employers have said, 'Are you interested?' or 'Call me when you graduate because we are looking to hire,'" said Molly Ruano, a physical therapy intern.

Despite Illinois' 10 percent unemployment, here are jobs going unfilled due to a lack of qualified applicants.

Outplacement specialist John Challenger says vacancies exist for jobs such as computer programmers, pharmaceutical bench techs, home healthcare aids, ultra sound technicians, electronic medical records technicians, mechanics and in trades -- welders and pipe fitters.

"The skills mismatch is because there seems to be a missing generation lots of people did those jobs 10, 20 years ago and now those people are retiring and there aren't people coming through the ranks as there was in previous decades," Challenger said.

The trucking industry isn't drawing drivers like it used to. It's estimated the trucking industry will be half a million drivers short next year. Con-way Freight started its own internal nationwide truck driving instruction to keep up with demand.

"There are jobs and we have opening at Con-way Freight right now," said David Burk with Con-way Freight.

Andrew Davis spent years in manufacturing, but after the last layoff he switched gears. Davis came to Con-way to get instruction for a commercial driver's license, and ultimately, consistent work.

"It was a great opportunity. More money and that's what I need to feed the family," Davis said. "I'm thrilled I'm making the money I always dreamed of and I love what I do."

The people who help design, construct and repair our aging roads and bridges are civil engineers. Currently china is expected to outpace the rest of the world graduating engineers, but it's a career that has a bright future in the United States.

"The need to apply that to make peoples live better is something this country will never grow out of so I think there will always be a need for engineers," said civil engineer Darren Olson.

The jobs we mention require some training. In some cases, prospective employers are willing to pick up the cost. But in others, it's on your dime.

Experts suggest checking with your community college to see what areas graduates get hired right away, and how to get that certification in to put you a new job.

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