Literacy news

More than a third of employers are dissatisfied with skills of new recruits

11 Jun 2012

Many UK employers say they are providing support for school leavers in reading, writing, maths and IT according to the latest CBI/ Pearson Education and Skills Survey.

The survey shows that in the past year, over two in five employers (42%) have organised training for at least some of their new recruits joining them from school or college. The most common extra training for school leavers is in IT, but around a fifth of all employers are running classes in numeracy or literacy, with some providing extra help in more than one area. Overall, more than a third (35%) are dissatisfied with the literacy skills of their new employees.

The report, based on a survey of 542 UK firms employing around 1.6 million people, reveals that in the past five years, concerns over workers' basic skills being adequate have deepened. It states:

It is probably not so much that levels of attainment have declined as that the levels of skill needed tend to escalate with the growing complexity of the workplace.

The CBI said the survey findings suggest there is a growing need to provide businesses with the skills they require, according to 73% of those questioned. More than half (57%) said it was important to raise standards to allow young people to live fulfilling lives, the survey adds.

It also found that many employers believe that primary schools should be focusing on the basics - reading, writing and maths, while secondary schools should prioritise developing the skills pupils will need for the world or work, as well as still working on literacy, numeracy and technology.

Read the full story at the Press Association.

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Tags: Young People

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