Mothers, carers and retired people should be encouraged back into work to ease the UK’s skills crisis, a new report states.
Britain will need 2.1 million new entrants to its workforce between 2010 and 2020. The research from City and Guilds claims that training is essential to increase the quantity of people returning to employment to fill this gap.
Almost half of the potential ‘returners’ surveyed (46%) felt concerned about a lack of skills required. Twenty-eight per cent of employers shared this worry.
Four in ten (39%) recipients said that IT training was a priority while the majority (59%) believe that general skills training would improve their confidence about returning to work.
Judith Norrington, head of policy development at City and Guilds, said that employers should encourage this group to return to work and achieve a diversity of skills.
“Many of those looking to return to the workplace have much-needed skills, including management, IT, engineering and construction experience, that could benefit UK industry and fill the impending skills gap,” she said.
She added: “Our research demonstrates a clear need for further advice and training, particularly in technology, to increase skills and confidence of those hoping to return to work after an extended time away.”
