|
Young people lack the reading, writing and maths skills that
employers want
EMPLOYERS are
struggling to find young people with the right skills for work in
North West of England, suggests new research by the Learning and
Skills Network (LSN). The research reveals that when
recruiting a school or college leaver employers look for people who
can read, write, do basic maths and show enthusiasm for work, above
anything else. But, only 6.1% of employers who had tried to recruit
a young person said that they have always been successful. Many who
failed to recruit a school or college leaver indicated that it was
because candidates lacked literacy or numeracy skills, or did not
have the right attitude to work.
The survey of 1137 employers from across the country was carried out
by YouGov on behalf of the Learning and Skills Network (LSN). A
total of 104 employers from the North West were interviewed from a
wide range of industries, which contributed to 9% of the overall
total. The employers who took part in the survey in the region were
asked what skills they would expect a young person who has just left
school, college or a training scheme to have in order to be
employable. 82% of employers said timekeeping skills, 69.2%
numeracy skills and 67.3% said literacy skills. When asked to rank a
list of 14 skills in order of importance, employers in the area
ranked communication skills 1st, literacy 2nd and numeracy 3rd.
Employers were also asked to identify ‘deal breaker’ skills,
or the skills that if not present would prevent them from selecting
a young candidate for a job. 53% in the North West named literacy
skills as a deal breaker and 52.9% said communication skills.
Enthusiasm and commitment was named as a deal breaker by 43.3%. And
51% of employers said that numeracy was a deal breaker.
Those employers who found it difficult to recruit young people were
then asked to name the skills that they found young people lacked
and the ones cited most frequently, were:-
Literacy
Numeracy
The right attitude
Communications
The survey also uncovered evidence of a generation gap in the
recruitment of young people, suggesting that older recruiters are
harder to convince that school and college leavers have the skills
they are looking for. Of the 1137 employers interviewed, 62% of
employers aged over 55 said they could not recruit the young people
they need for their business. By comparison, only 26% of respondents
in the 25-34 age bracket held the same view.
Commenting on the research, John Stone, Chief Executive, Learning
and Skills Network said:- “Above all else, employers want
young people who are looking for their first job to be literate,
numerate and communicate well.
Attitude is also important, employers
want young job candidates to be good at timekeeping and show
enthusiasm and commitment to work.
This is a key issue that needs to
be addressed if we are to equip young people with the skills they
need for work and reduce levels of youth unemployment.”
|
MODERNISATION OF CAREERS ADVICE IS REQUIRED
A report compiled by
leading figures from politics, education and business has called for
changes to careers advice in England. The findings from a 6
month inquiry by the Skills Commission, part of Policy Connect, into
information, advice and guidance (IAG) services in England reveal a
system of careers advice that is sometimes outdated.
The publication of the report coincides with an overhaul in funding
of careers advice. Local authorities will be responsible for the
provision of advice and guidance for young people. The report calls
on Government to take on board and apply key recommendations for
future IAG policy including:-
· re-evaluating IAG services, which often operate using outdated
delivery models
· making sure that
people have better access to improved websites and forums where they
can find information about training routes
· ensuring that
people of all ages have access to careers advisors
· making it a
statutory duty that learning providers deliver careers education to
young people up to the age of 18
· reassessing its
decision not to introduce an all-age service
· ensuring Local
Authorities devote sufficient funds to Connexions
Professor Mike Thorne, vice chancellor of Anglia Ruskin University
and chair of the inquiry, commented:- “The Government’s
announcement that it will introduce an adult advancement and careers
service represents a terrific opportunity. But, if the Government is
serious about making the new service available to all, it needs to
harness the power of the internet and revisit its decision to rule
out a single all age advice service.”
Andy Powell, member of the Skills Commission and CEO of Edge,
commented:- “High quality information, advice and guidance is
vital for the UK to improve its skills base. The reality is that a
fifth of adults in Briton do not feel they are in a job that makes
best use of their skills and therefore we are urging the Government
to listen very carefully to the recommendations of the Skills
Commission.
We look forward to the day when all young people
and adults in England are provided with careers advice suited to
their skills and talent no matter what their academic capabilities
are.
The prejudice against vocational learning as a route for high
achieving students’ results in many adults ending up in a career
that is not suited to them. Careers advice in England should offer
all options to everyone allowing individuals to make the right
choices for their future.”
Visit
www.policyconnect.org.uk/skills/sc
or
www.edge.co.uk for more information and a copy
of the full report. |
