17 March 2010
1.7million UK workers don't have the necessary skills to do their job
Economic recovery and growth will only be fully realised if there is continued investment in skills, according to the first National Strategic Skills Audit, commissioned by the government and published today by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES). The report shows that, while there has been an 'unprecedented increase' in the number of people with qualifications in the last decade, future skills development needs must be correctly identified and prioritised. If this is not achieved, the report adds, the country runs the risk of increased skills shortages and underemployment.
Amongst the report's main findings is the number of people reported as 'not fully proficient' at their jobs increased to 1.7million in 2009. The report also found that leadership and management skills and technical skills are in need of particular improvement.
Chris Humphries, pictured, UKCES chief executive, said: "Despite having a more skilled workforce than at any time in our history, we still lag behind many of our major economic competitors. In order to catch up, skills investment needs to connect more to the jobs that need doing now and that will need doing in the future. We need more and better jobs not just to recover from the recession, but to be better than we were before it."
Business secretary Lord Mandelson noted: "I am grateful to UKCES for this groundbreaking report. This gives us the most detailed picture yet of the UK's skills profile and future needs. We have already set out our commitment to supporting growth in priority sectors and this Audit reinforces the crucial nature of that work."
Author
Graham Pitcher
Supporting Information
Websites
http://www.ukces.org.uk
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