The majority of businesses think that in the future they will not be able to find staff with the right skills for the job, a study has found.
A report, conducted by the insurer AXA, found that 82% of businesses are worried about future recruitment.
Company bosses also believe that the main reason for failure in business is a lack of good staff, with 46% citing this as the most common reason for a firm closing down.
The market for skilled staff appears to be falling as 69% of those surveyed say it has been harder to recruit during the last three years.
However, many firms might not be doing enough themselves to improve skills in the workplace.
Data from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) shows that while most employers pay lip service to the idea of training at work, just 45% have a training plan and only 33% have a training budget.
David Way, director of skills at the LSC, said: “Although we hear concerns about the quality of available skills in the workforce, there is also an increasing appetite in business leaders to tackle the problem.
“While the public sector has its part to play and the LSC and others are investing significantly in improving the skills of both young people and adults, business must to invest in their own workforce too.
“Employers increasingly view training or skills development not as a nice to have but as a business necessity.
“If you take the proactive step you will not only improve the capabilities of your staff, their morale and loyalty you will most importantly secure your business for the future and out perform your competition.”
© Crimson Business Ltd 2006
