CHICAGO (CBS) -- Even in an economy with 9 percent unemployment, some employers say they can't find enough workers for some jobs -- and not necessarily low-paying jobs.

Some companies say a "skills gap" is preventing workers from getting hired, CBS 2's Derrick Blakley reports.

Imagine a job that pays $60,000 a year, with good benefits, and you just need a high school diploma. You'd think United Road could find plenty of drivers to transport new cars.

But you'd be wrong.

"We've got another 100 new trucks on order that we'll take delivery of between now and February, and we're looking for good qualified drivers to fill those seats," Ed McDonnell of United Road says.

The problem is, they can't find them.

At Bison Gear and Engineering in St. Charles, it took 18 months to find and hire one experienced electrical engineer. Finding shop floor workers is no picnic, either.

"We're not getting trained, skilled applicants in for shop floor positions. That's very rare. There are just not a lot of applicants coming in to apply for these jobs," George Thomas said.

Even with high unemployment, experts say there's a basic and growing gap between the skills job seekers have and the skills employers want.

"There's a mismatch for the folks that are being displaced. Because the industries they're coming from are shrinking, and the industries that are growing require a different skill set," Patrick Beharelle of Seaton Corp. said.

That's why businesses like Bison increasingly see training as part of their mission.

Daniel Olejarz started on the shop floor and eventually ran it. He earned a bachelor's degree, and now seeks a master's degree with the company's help.

"We can't compete on just technology. You've got to improve your technology as well as your people. That's your investment," he says.

Bison has received awards for its workforce training, which makes the company more productive and encourages a stable workforce.

As for those high-paying car-hauling jobs, United Road requires a commercial driver's license and one year's driving experience for new hires.

It's also a very physical job and a challenging one during winter weather.

For more information about the jobs mentioned in this story:

United Road can be reached at (800) 221-5127 or at careers@unitedroad.com.

Bison Gear and Engineering, 3850 Ohio Ave., can be reached at (800) 282-4766.