The shortage of skilled workers across the UK is getting worse and is holding back small- and medium-sized firms according to the latest research from Bibby Financial Services.
The findings, which are part of a national survey of small business owners and managers, show that over three quarters (76 per cent) of entrepreneurs believe that the skills level in their sector has declined or remained static. The skills shortage is more acute in the traditional, blue-collar industries such as construction, manufacturing and agriculture where skills levels have slipped considerably.
When it comes to recruiting new members of staff, a significant 67 per cent of owners and managers rate vocational skills more highly than academic qualifications. These findings come at a time when the government is setting the ambitious target of putting half of all young people into higher education courses.
