The report finds that most jobs now require higher skill levels than had previously been the case and the continued ability of the UK to compete internationally will depend on a trained and highly skilled workforce. However, the report also finds that the priority for government funding in skills training is focused on training to level 2 – the equivalent of five GCSE passes between grades A* and C and the level most employers could reasonably expect their employees to have achieved at school.  

Mr Bacon, a member of the committee, said:

“The skills gap will only be closed by convincing employers of the very real benefits training can bring to their firm and the wider economy. Instead, the Government is spending public money meant for training on patching up 16-19 year-olds’ basic numeracy and literacy skills. Employers have every right to expect UK school leavers’ abilities to be at least on a par with the skills that teenagers in Europe, Japan and the USA are taking into the workplace”.

“The blunt truth is that the UK’s economy simply cannot remain competitive unless British employees have the right skills. India and China are both investing heavily in becoming highly skilled economies. We must close the skills gap quickly with more and better training, if we are to continue to mount a strong challenge to our competitors overseas”.

26 May 2006

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