Search Results for: skills gap

April 7, 2025

Lack of skills, work ethic and too many demands deter firms from employing candidates

Many UK employers are continuing to struggle to fill vacancies, with new research revealing a sharp disconnect between candidate expectations and employer requirements. A recent poll by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) claims to shed light on why so many applications are being rejected despite a strong demand for workers across key industries. According to the CMI, a significant number of organisations are turning away applicants who they believe lack the necessary ‘attitude’ or ‘work ethic’. The poll, which surveyed over 1,000 managers, found that around four in five employers had rejected candidates on the basis of soft skills, rather than qualifications or experience. This emphasis on attitude over aptitude reflects a broader trend in recruitment, where cultural fit and interpersonal qualities are increasingly valued – and, often, missing from the applicant pool. (more…)

January 31, 2025

We need to address the UK’s creative skills shortage

by Chris Meredith • Comment, Workplace

The UK’s creative industries, from film and television to the dynamic video game sector, are cultural flagships and economic cornerstones. Valued at £125 billion annually, the creative industries are named one of the UK government’s eight growth-driving sectors in its Industrial Strategy. Yet, a significant obstacle looms over their continued success: a persistent and growing skills shortage. This gap threatens to stifle innovation and global competitiveness, particularly in the booming video game industry. (more…)

August 2, 2024

Tech workers and young people will need a major skills upgrade if they are to keep up with AI

by Neil Franklin • AI, News

The vast majority (92 percent) of ICT roles are expected to undergo big changes as a result of advancements in artificial intelligence and the technology continues to transform the information and communications (ICT) sector according to a new report from tech giants, Cisco, Microsoft and Google. The AI-enabled ICT Workforce Consortium, led by Cisco has published the “Transformational Opportunity of AI on ICT Jobs” report, offering guidance on the areas for of concern for workers to reskill in response to the evolving job landscape. This transformation will impact professionals in 47 ICT roles, including cybersecurity, data science and software development, according to the report. (more…)

June 21, 2024

Europe lacks skills in key technologies such as AI, quantum and space

by Neil Franklin • AI, News, Technology

Critical gaps have formed across Europe’s technology sector, with skills, investment and innovation being stunted in vital areas such as AI, quantum computing and space technology, according to a report from DIGITALEUROPE. The study titled ‘The EU’s Critical Gap: Rethinking Economic Security to Put Europe Back on the Map,’ claims that Europe is significantly lagging in key technologies. Among 8 technologies that were analysed, Europe was shown to be lagging behind in 7, only leading in advanced connectivity, with major investments and profits in this sector are being led primarily by the US. (more…)

January 26, 2024

Age gaps between colleagues linked to lower productivity

by Jayne Smith • News

Employees who are much younger than their managers report lower productivity than those closer in age due to a lack of collaboration between employees of different generations, according to new research from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) in collaboration with consulting firm, Protiviti. An external survey conducted by LSE of 1,450 employees in the finance, technology and professional services industries in the UK and USA, found that friction between different generations was driving down productivity and that firms need to develop intergenerationally inclusive work practices. (more…)

November 30, 2022

Majority of firms currently using technology to plug talent gaps

by Neil Franklin • News, Technology

In the face of hiring and skills issues, 77 percent of UK organisations say they are finding ways for technology to do jobs formerly performed by people, according to a new poll from Rackspace Technology. According to the survey, two thirds (64 percent) of UK companies are downsizing their staff, facilitated by technology, out of a necessity, with roles in customer service the most likely to be automated, as identified by 70 percent of business decision makers – followed by IT operations (62 percent), sales and marketing (57 percent), business operations (56 percent), and HR and admin (56 percent). (more…)

November 3, 2022

Are digital skills the key to a happier, more productive workforce?

by Katy Liddell • Comment, Technology, Workplace

The rising cost-of-living is impacting life and work in all four corners of the UK. Research from BCC has found that businesses feel compelled to increase their own prices. With costs rising, businesses are facing growing pressures. Not least the need to attract and retain the talent they can depend on to deliver. Research has shown that taking time to upskill current employees, especially in terms of their digital skills, benefits both productivity and engagement at all levels of an organisation. Our own Tech and Battle for Talent report recognises that 42 percent of employees in organisations across the UK would be more likely to stay in their current role if employers provided regular and intensive training, while 47 percent would be happier. (more…)

July 14, 2022

Three quarters of young people worldwide lack skills needed for employment

by Jayne Smith • News, Workplace

Nearly three quarters of young people aged 15 to 24 in 92 countries with available data are off-track to acquire the skills needed for employment, according to a new report published today by the Education Commission and UNICEF to coincide with World Youth Skills Day. Recovering learning: Are children and youth on track in skills development? features analyses on development in early childhood, and among children of primary school age and youth. The data highlight low levels of skill among children and young people across all age groups, with young people in low-income countries the least likely to have those required to thrive, particularly in future employment opportunities, decent work, and entrepreneurship. (more…)

July 1, 2022

Skills shortages lead to fall in wellbeing, increased workload and decreased profitability

by Jayne Smith • News, Wellbeing, Workplace

According to The Open University’s Business Barometer 2022 report, published in partnership with the British Chambers of Commerce, UK organisations are experiencing the knock-on effect of ongoing skills shortages, as more than three quarters (78 percent) report seeing reduced output, profitability or growth. The Open University’s annual report which sets out to provide an overview of UK skills , also highlighted the effect the skills shortage seems to be having on morale and wellbeing, as almost three-quarters (72 percent) of organisations say the impact increases workload on other staff. (more…)

March 8, 2022

Wellbeing, skills and diversity data absent from majority of FTSE 100 firms’ annual reports

by Jayne Smith • News, Wellbeing, Workplace

New analysis of FTSE 100 annual reports finds that while workforce reporting has improved in the past two years, the quantity and quality of disclosures still varies significantly and remains very poor in places. The new report, How do companies report on their ‘most important asset?, from the CIPD, the PLSA and Railpen, analysed the quality of workforce disclosures in the 2021 annual reports of FTSE 100 companies against seven key themes: Workforce cost and composition; employee relations and wellbeing; reward; voice; skills, capabilities and recruitment; and response to COVID-19. (more…)

January 4, 2022

Hybrid working will demand leaders develop new communication skills

by David Mills • Comment, Flexible working

Keeping on top of communication barriers in the business world can feel like an endless game of Whac-A-Mole, especially now in the new era of hybrid working. The usual culprits are well-known by now: patchy WiFi connections, crashing computer programmes, cloud syncing issues, important emails sneaking into spam folders – the list goes on. All can impede our ability to get the job done. (more…)

December 14, 2021

Drawing on internal skills can help firms cope with Great Resignation

by Mike Baker • Comment, Workplace

The UK’s workforce is undergoing rapid transformation as employees’ expectations and motivations radically change. The impact of Brexit, COVID-19 and long periods of furlough have created a tidal wave of resignations across every industry. Workers are re-thinking career paths, work conditions and long-term goals after a turbulent 18 months; with one study finding that 38 percent of people are looking to change roles in the new year. (more…)