Bosses struggling to find skilled workers

SCOTTISH businesses are facing a chronic skills shortage which could badly affect the economic recovery.

New figures show that 70 per cent of firms need more highly skilled staff particularly in science and engineering.

According to the latest annual CBI/Pearson Education and Skills Survey more than half are not confident of finding suitably qualified recruits.

More than one in five firms are unable to hire graduates with science, maths or technology degrees. Hugh Aitken, CBI Scotland Director, said: ‘While the Scottish economy continues to make headway we must be on our guard as local growth risks being undermined by a shortage of the higher-level skills businesses need to get on, and the situation is only set to get worse.

‘High-growth, high-value sectors, with the most potential are under the most pressure. We must make sure that our education and skills system is truly responsive to the needs of business and that young people receive much better careers advice, if we are to propel the Scottish economy forward in the years ahead.’

According to the survey, 77 per cent of businesses are not satisfied with the current performance of careers advice in schools and colleges. Business also want to see universities doing more to improve the business relevance of undergraduate courses.