A lack of basic skills is the problem, say large companies

BBC Newsbeat reports on survey data from their study of 27 of the top 50 largest employers in the UK, representing 1.03 million workers. Their findings indicate that unemployment is set to rise further this autumn.

In response to the youth unemployment problem, almost half of those surveyed said that the government needed to train up young jobseekers as too many lacked basic skills, especially in subjects like mathematics and English.

One large company said that young applicants lacked “basic presentation and communication skills as well as simple budgeting”.

When asked to name the biggest single obstacle to hiring more young people, the most common answer was a lack of basic skills followed by inexperience.

Nine out of 10 companies said there needs to be a greater focus on practical, hands-on training in school and college to get more teenagers straight into work.

The government say that employers are right to raise concerns about a lack of skills and has just approved a batch of New University Technical Colleges which will teach core subjects along hands-on practical training. welfare to work is the answer

Website: BBC Newsbeat

Amanda Frewin

Research & Project Support