CBI / Nord Anglia Employment and Skills Survey 2009
The CBI / Nord Anglia education and skills survey 2009 provides authoritative information on employers' views of education and skills issues.
The survey found that employers remain committed to training to improve the performance of their business, with nine out of ten having a training and development plan. But in testing economic times, most firms (51%) were looking to target their training spend more effectively to achieve the greatest returns and emerge from the downturn in good shape. Skills remain essential to building the high-skilled, high-value added economy we need to stay ahead in the global marketplace, and it is concerning that two thirds (66%) of employers continue to experience difficulties recruiting staff with vital science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) skills.
The survey covers the full range of issues, including: employer and employee commitment to training, basic skills, apprenticeships, and business links with school and universities.
Coming through the recession in good shape is a key driver for organisations. This is being done by targeting investment in training and development (51% of respondents) and improving productivity (61% of respondents say this is a key priority). Strong leadership and management skills are also regarded as essential with 39% of respondents prioritising the importance of improving these skills.
Inspirational managers – leading from the front are clearly linked to driving business competitiveness and managing change. There is a perception of UK middle management skills being weak. 96% of respondents acknowledge their responsibility to develop management and leadership skills and they are investing in this.
Gaining the skills employers are concerned about skill levels. This is at those roles with low level skills and also at the high level skills. 57% of respondents lack confidence that there will be sufficient people with the right level of skills. 90% of respondents had a training plan in place and see that there is a pay back on the bottom line. 43% said that training has improved their profitability and productivity.
59% of the respondents felt that staff value training.
Basic Skills continues to be a concern with 40% worried about poor literacy and numeracy skills. 57% are concerned about a shortage of basic IT skills in their current workforce. Young people’s skills are acknowledged to be exemplary.
Graduates with strong employability skills have the edge - more than a third of respondents require degree level skills. This varies according to sector. Employers place enormous emphasis on employability skills and believe that universities need to do more to ensure that graduates leave with these skills.
Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) skills are in demand by all sectors. 40% of respondents prefer STEM and a further 13% prefer business degrees. 66% of respondents had difficulty in recruiting people with STEM skills. 64% science, high tech and IT employers perceive that the content of STEM degrees was not relevant to their businesses.
Apprenticeships are critical - despite the downturn many firms are still considering expanding their schemes. However 17% of small firms have ceased their involvement.
