UK employers struggle to find staff with right skills

According to a recent survey, UK companies are reporting increased difficulties in recruiting staff with the right skills, and the education system has been accused of failing to meet employers' requirements.

Figures released today by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) revealed a 50% increase in the number of employers reporting problems recruiting staff with the right skills. Comparison between the BCC’s biggest economic surveys in 1994 and 2004, both surveys involved responses from over 6,000 businesses, revealed that in 1994, 29% of firms complained that they were experiencing difficulties recruiting skilled employees, in 2004 this had risen to 43%.

At a conference today, Director General of the BCC, David Frost, will tell delegates how employers are often "frustrated that young people are not equipped with the right skills for the workplace".

Mr Frost is expected to say: "The system is simply not providing potential employees with the right skills for business and our figures show it has been failing for many years. The skills of our workforce are already lagging behind many of our global competitors."

He will call on ministers to implement "lasting reform" in the White Paper on education reform for 14 to 16 year-olds, which is due next week.

The proposals, from former chief inspector of schools Mike Tomlinson, include a staged diploma to replace GCSE and A-level examinations, but the Government are unlikely to embrace such far-ranging proposals.

Education Secretary Ruth Kelly is expected to be reluctant to dispense with the well-recognised exam structure. Downing Street, prior to an election, have already signalled that the radical restructuring proposals are unacceptable.

The BCC would support a diploma-based system, but want an improved vocational achievement programme that will win employer backing.

(SP)