Partner Article
Employers dissatisfied by school leavers’ basic skills
A third of employers are dissatisfied with school and college leavers’ basic skills, as many fail to obtain the most basic skills required for the workplace.
According to a CBI and Pearson Education and Skills survey, 61% of all school and college leavers have not developed necessary self-management skills needed for the work. The results have reignited concerns over structural issues within schools which need to be addressed to ensure that young people can get the best possible start in life.
Rod Bristow, UK President of Pearson said: “The connection between education and the world of work is critically important. Employers and all of us working in education have a big task to address that connection properly.
“Despite improvements in the past decade, employers want to see an even sharper focus on literacy and numeracy, beginning at primary school. Literacy and numeracy are the basic building blocks that help young people learn other subjects, get on in life and find rewarding work.”
The survey also finds that as the UK competes ever more for business and talent in global markets, employers are looking to up-skill their workforces. Over the next three to five years, employers expect to need more people with leadership and management skills and other higher skills, whereas for lower-skilled workers, they expect to slightly cut numbers.
While half of employers are confident that they will fill their low-skilled vacancies, they are not confident of meeting their need for higher-skilled employees.
Commenting on the findings, John Cridland CBI Director General said: “The UK’s growth will depend on developing a wider and deeper pool of skills so that our economy can prosper in the face of fierce international competition for business.
“There is nothing more important to the future economic success of our country, and the lives of young people, than education.”
Employers recognise that they have an important role to play helping students and schools understand what skills are needed for working life. More than a third have increased their engagement with schools in the past year while just 7% have reduced it, giving a balance of +32%.
Many employers carry out careers advice, but it is felt that the quality of this advice is often inadequate. More than 60% of businesses questioned are keen to play a greater role in delivery of careers advice.
The survey also indicated that no one qualification adequately addresses the he combination of literacy, numeracy and employability requirements effectively.
Mr Bristow added: “Even the best-performing nations say the number one issue in education is to better equip school leavers with the broader skills needed for working life, and we are no exception.
“Employers still find that some young people lack the initiative, problem-solving and communication skills to succeed at work.”
This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .
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