A new report by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) has found that there is a skills gap in a number of key areas in the UK economy.
The report, which was published in January 2023, found that there is a shortage of workers with digital skills, STEM skills, and soft skills.
The report also found that the skills gap is most acute in the following sectors:
- Technology: The tech sector is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the UK economy, and there is a shortage of workers with the digital skills needed to work in this sector.
- Healthcare: The healthcare sector is also facing a skills shortage, as there is a shortage of workers with the STEM skills needed to work in this sector.
- Construction: The construction sector is also facing a skills shortage, as there is a shortage of workers with the skills needed to build and maintain infrastructure.
The report found that the skills gap is costing the UK economy £13 billion per year.
The report also found that the skills gap is a major barrier to economic growth.
The report made a number of recommendations to address the skills gap, including:
- Investing in education and training: The UK government needs to invest more in education and training to ensure that workers have the skills that employers need.
- Making it easier for workers to retrain: The government needs to make it easier for workers to retrain so that they can acquire the skills that employers need.
- Working with employers: The government needs to work with employers to identify the skills that they need and to develop programs to train workers in those skills.
The report concluded that the skills gap is a serious problem that needs to be addressed in order to ensure the long-term economic growth of the UK.
Source: UK Commission for Employment and Skills
Other studies that have been conducted on the skills gap in the UK:
A report by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) found that the skills gap is costing the UK economy £15 billion per year.
A report by the National Skills Academy for Information and Technology (NSATI) found that there is a shortage of 1.2 million digital workers in the UK.
The government needs to take action to address the skills gap, or it will continue to hold back the UK economy.The skills gap is a serious problem that needs to be addressed in order to ensure the long-term economic growth of the UK. The UK government needs to invest more in education and training, make it easier for workers to retrain, and work with employers to identify the skills that they need.