According to a new survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers, British bosses are worried about the lack of skilled workers. PwC found that the number of bosses concerned about a skills shortage has risen ‘considerably’ from 64% last year to 84% this year.
That is greater than the 73% seen globally and compares with 37% in France, 53% in Spain and 54% in Germany. Just over a quarter of UK bosses believe the government has created a skilled and adaptable workforce.
Speaking in Davos, Switzerland, Ian Powell, chairman and senior partner of PwC UK, said: “Last year we saw a sharp rise in confidence as the UK economy appeared to turn a corner. While confidence remains high there is no room for complacency. A keen focus for UK chief executives is how the UK develops the right skills to compete globally.
“Our survey again highlights the pressing need for the government, business and education sectors to work together to enable the UK to prosper in the long-term. There has been good progress with apprenticeship schemes, but we need to build on this success to ensure that skills and opportunities are matched.”
