Vocational skills are essential to improving the long term competitiveness of businesses yet one quarter of adults are failing to declare this training on their CVs, a new report has revealed. The research from the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) reveals that three out of four employers see staff with vocational skills as essential in improving the long-term competitiveness of their business. However, with 29% failing to list these skills on their CVs, a potential gap in communicating these skills to employers is emerging. Further evidence that employers are placing an increased emphasis on practical qualifications is demonstrated by one third of employees with vocational qualifications being rewarded with a higher salary. In addition, 71% of the workforce surveyed agreed that in the current climate employees holding vocational qualifications may be better suited in than those with university degrees. This sentiment is further echoed with almost three quarters of employees finding their vocational qualifications to be of more benefit now than ever before. Despite the value that these qualifications attract, one in five of the workforce surveyed that hold vocational qualifications, can’t remember what certificates they own. The research also underlines a worrying trend that with vocational qualifications most prevalent amongst individuals aged over 45 years, Britain’s ageing population will be taking their talents and insight into retirement over the next ten to twenty years. The research showed that Baby Boomers (aged 45+) hold the most vocational qualifications with 35% holding one or more relevant qualifications while 75% of Gen X (aged 35 to 44), place more relevance on vocational qualifications in the current economic climate in comparison to university degrees. However 86% of Gen Y (aged 16 to 34) sees the provision of vocational training as a means of helping people back into the workplace yet only 21% hold relevant qualifications – the least within each of the age categories.