Skilled Worker Shortage A 'Looming Problem' For Employers - Report

A shortage of skilled workers in some industries is a "looming problem", a new report has warned ahead of the latest unemployment figures.

A study by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) found that around a third of firms had no spare capacity in their workforce and would have to hire new staff if work increased.

The poll of 2,000 employers showed that one in five had increased staffing levels in the past year, compared with 12% which had cut jobs.

One in four said the economy was starting to pick up, but concerns were raised about a shortage of skilled workers for jobs in engineering, computing and education.

Kate Shoesmith, head of policy at the REC, said: "Employers' inability to improve their workforce productivity without hiring new staff is likely to suppress pay growth in the foreseeable future as they invest in increasing headcount rather than pay packets.

"Starting salaries and hourly pay rates will rise in certain areas where skilled candidates are scarce and companies have to compete for talent.

"The shortage of candidates with the skills required for a growing number of vacancies is a looming problem.

Politicians and business leaders need to work together to find solutions to the mismatch between what employers need and what jobseekers have to offer.

"Training for young people, world class careers advice and a supportive immigration policy are three areas where immediate action is needed to ensure UK businesses can compete in the world economy."

Last month's official jobless figures showed a fall of 99,000 in the quarter to October to 2.39 million, with a 36,700 cut in the numbers claiming jobseeker's allowance in November.

Analysts expect a similar trend in today's data from the Office for National Statistics.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/01/21/skilled-workers-shortage_n_4637503.html?utm_hp_ref=uk

Ok ok ok ok.

Now, I remember doing a thread on this in my first few months on Sky, around the time Gordon's World Recession started.

The above is obvious - if work increases, they won't have enough staff.

Is there any way of preventing that? Well no. No business keeps a few staff on standby. This is going to happen ever few years - they will hire when business is taking off and at some point in a few years they will have to get rid of the waste.

So, my thread subject was this - is there really any way of preventing boom and bust?

I don't think so - it's all so obviously got to happen in developed countries such as ours.

True Andy we should be doing more though to encourage those who are skilled here from taking better packages offered abroad, which is part of the problem and that really is at the heart of the problem.

PhilDidge wrote:True Andy we should be doing more though to encourage those who are skilled here from taking better packages offered abroad, which is part of the problem and that really is at the heart of the problem.

Skilled workers are already paid enough here Didge - pay them any more and the jobs will be given abroad, if possible.

BigAndy9 wrote:

PhilDidge wrote:True Andy we should be doing more though to encourage those who are skilled here from taking better packages offered abroad, which is part of the problem and that really is at the heart of the problem.

Skilled workers are already paid enough here Didge - pay them any more and the jobs will be given abroad, if possible.

But many are being lured abroad with better deals Andy

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9659949/UK-facing-middle-class-brain-drain-as-professionals-seek-better-lives-abroad.html

PhilDidge wrote:

BigAndy9 wrote:

Skilled workers are already paid enough here Didge - pay them any more and the jobs will be given abroad, if possible.

But many are being lured abroad with better deals Andy

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9659949/UK-facing-middle-class-brain-drain-as-professionals-seek-better-lives-abroad.html

Have they been questioned on why they went abroad?

Ask why people want to go abroad Didge - it won't be for money - it will be for lifestyle, better life for their children, safer etc.

Britain, to many Brits, is now an unsafe dump.

On the flipside, it is a foreigners paradise - enjoy!

BigAndy9 wrote:

PhilDidge wrote:

But many are being lured abroad with better deals Andy

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9659949/UK-facing-middle-class-brain-drain-as-professionals-seek-better-lives-abroad.html

Have they been questioned on why they went abroad?

Ask why people want to go abroad Didge - it won't be for money - it will be for lifestyle, better life for their children, safer etc.

Britain, to many Brits, is now an unsafe dump.

On the flipside, it is a foreigners paradise - enjoy!

Yes it is very much about a better deal all round, why have many for example moved to countries in the Middle East Andy, is  it they are trying to get away from Muslims/foreigners or money?

PhilDidge wrote:

BigAndy9 wrote:

Have they been questioned on why they went abroad?

Ask why people want to go abroad Didge - it won't be for money - it will be for lifestyle, better life for their children, safer etc.

Britain, to many Brits, is now an unsafe dump.

On the flipside, it is a foreigners paradise - enjoy!

Yes it is very much about a better deal all round, why have many for example moved to countries in the Middle East Andy, is  it they are trying to get away from Muslims/foreigners or money?

No didge - there are a lot of muslims in the Middle East - lots of money too.

BigAndy9 wrote:

PhilDidge wrote:


Yes it is very much about a better deal all round, why have many for example moved to countries in the Middle East Andy, is  it they are trying to get away from Muslims/foreigners or money?

No didge - there are a lot of muslims in the Middle East - lots of money too.

So the answer would be money then would it not as to why people are leaving with skills.

Is it safer for their children in Middle Eastern countries Andy?

No - why?

Where are the main destinations? Australia, NZ, US and a few European countries I should think.

Those who go to the Middle East are usually husbands who go there to work leaving their family back home.

Ok, let me point something out - UK people who go to live abroad are usually skilled workers in demand - to live and work in most other countries you have to be that!

Britain, on the other hand, takes anybody in. I would think it's hard to disagree with that.

Ok, not on paper, if you try that one, but we all know it's a complete mess.

BigAndy9 wrote:No - why?

Where are the main destinations?  Australia, NZ, US and a few European countries I should think.

Those who go to the Middle East are usually husbands who go there to work leaving their family back home.

Ok, let me point something out - UK people who go to live abroad are usually skilled workers in demand - to live and work in most other countries you have to be that!

Britain, on the other hand, takes anybody in.  I would think it's hard to disagree with that.

Ok, not on paper, if you try that one, but we all know it's a complete mess.

We are talking about skilled workers here, not people just moving abroad Andy for a new life.

Many leave for highly paid jobs in Hong Kong and the Middle East

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2399845/Brain-drain-skilled-British-workers-leave-better-life-abroad-getting-bigger-thanks-immigration.html#ixzz2r7Z73OYy
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

PhilDidge wrote:

BigAndy9 wrote:No - why?

Where are the main destinations?  Australia, NZ, US and a few European countries I should think.

Those who go to the Middle East are usually husbands who go there to work leaving their family back home.

Ok, let me point something out - UK people who go to live abroad are usually skilled workers in demand - to live and work in most other countries you have to be that!

Britain, on the other hand, takes anybody in.  I would think it's hard to disagree with that.

Ok, not on paper, if you try that one, but we all know it's a complete mess.

We are talking about skilled workers here, not people just moving abroad Andy for a new life.

Many leave for highly paid jobs in Hong Kong and the Middle East

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2399845/Brain-drain-skilled-British-workers-leave-better-life-abroad-getting-bigger-thanks-immigration.html#ixzz2r7Z73OYy
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

Well of course they are skilled workers - no other country would accept a British migrant unless they are skilled or filthy rich.

Britain, on the other hand...

BigAndy9 wrote:

PhilDidge wrote:


We are talking about skilled workers here, not people just moving abroad Andy for a new life.

Many leave for highly paid jobs in Hong Kong and the Middle East

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2399845/Brain-drain-skilled-British-workers-leave-better-life-abroad-getting-bigger-thanks-immigration.html#ixzz2r7Z73OYy
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

Well of course they are skilled workers - no other country would accept a British migrant unless they are skilled or filthy rich.

Britain, on the other hand...

The majority of EU migrants are skilled Andy

@andy
no we take you useless lot   So do New Zealand and most other commwealth nations.

@headline
that is Excellent news for the workers, get yourself skilled up in one of the shortages and you got an opportunity.

Just wanted to note that I moved this thread to Business & Economy; I think it fits. Plus the UK section has so many threads going, if we can push a few into other threads it may help people keep up :D

 

THE BIG BOSSES started to bring these shortages upon themselves back in the 1980s...

Training cutbacks.
Apprentice number cutbacks.
Downward pressures on workers wages and conditions.
Bad government policies in not recognising and adapting to trends soon enough.
Increased "workers are the enemy" mindset among the Tory "classes"..
Sharemarkets celebrating mass sackings...
Increased "guest workers"..
Tories' greed.


'They that sow the wind, shall reap the whirlwind."