But in a country of 3.5m the shortage of skilled workers is acute, discouraging foreign firms from investing and slowing their growth.

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Their absence, some suggest, will lead to a shortage of skilled workers and mentors, a loss of productivity and even a surplus of office space.

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Also, labor costs are trending higher amid a shortage of skilled mine workers, Bhar said.

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There is still a shortage of skilled mining workers, meaning more labor inflation.

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If educated Sri Lankans were allowed to work in India, they could get good jobs there instead of having to take menial work in the Gulf, thus easing a growing shortage of skilled Indian workers.

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Forecasts of a shortage of skilled and unskilled workers had led to an international recruiting drive, but have more recently given way to a preference for local labor.

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There is a severe shortage of educated and skilled managers and workers to address manufacturing and service needs.

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According to the Immigration Advisory Service, restrictions on lower-skilled workers from outside the EU are causing a labour shortage so severe it could cause "irreparable damage" to the curry industry.

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The U.S. firms are seeking to hire more foreign workers for high-skilled jobs but face a visa shortage because of competition with Indian firms.

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Proceso Social is also trying to teach families skills that might give them a better chance of finding work in an environment where there is a shortage of skilled labour and a surplus of non-skilled workers.

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