What can be done to help improve the UK’s skills shortage?

In 2014, figures released by the Office for National Statistics showed signs that the UK economy was finally in recovery, with the strongest rates of growth reported since 2007. Whilst this is undoubtedly excellent news for UK businesses, there is now a more worrying issue at hand – lack of skills.  Research carried out by the UK Commission for Employment (UKCES) shows as many as 1 in 5 job vacancies are left unfilled due to shortages in skills.

Kevin Green, chief executive of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), whose members are “on the front line of the UK labour market” as he puts it, paints an alarming picture.

“Last year we had nine areas of skills shortages, now we have 43 areas. Every single type of engineering is in short supply, from mechanical to software, civil to electrical,” says Mr Green.

“In IT, coders, programmers, developers are all in short supply; there’s a shortage of doctors and nurses in the National Health Service; and we need about 20,000 more teachers in the UK.

“And the situation’s been getting worse month-on-month over the last 18 months,” he adds.

UKCES found that many businesses were unwilling to take on school and college leavers, although those that did found they were largely well prepared for employment.  Perhaps those looking for their first job should not be so readily dismissed without proper consideration as they may prove to become a good and cost effective resource.  More apprenticeships and ‘earn-as-you-learn’ schemes would also help to tackle the issue, equipping school leavers with the skills that they may currently be lacking.  And with a greater input by employers into the content of these courses, would mean a quicker and more relevant integration into the workplace.

Although educational institutions must play their part in helping with the crisis by providing better careers advice, businesses can also help employees who lack certain skills by providing regular access to training.

As things stand, the future looks uncertain and if the skills shortage crisis gets any worse, the recent growth of the UK economy could suffer. It is essential that the government works with educational institutes and employers to ensure future generations can go into the job market equipped with all the skills necessary for the UK economy to continue to grow.

Source: Skills shortages holding back the UK’s economic recovery, BBC News December 2014, UKCES and ONS.