More than 25 percent of human resources professionals say that they are seeing a shortage of qualified candidates in positions that require degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, according to a survey by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).

Half of respondents said new employees lack some core skills, citing overall professionalism, analytical skills, business knowledge, and written and verbal communication as the skills new employees most frequently lack.

The survey of 489 HR professionals found that the most common ways respondents are addressing the skills shortage include offering undergraduate educational assistance, graduate educational assistance, job-related skills training, and internships.

Twenty-nine percent of respondents said that they hire foreign nationals when they are unable to find a U.S. worker with the necessary competencies or skills.