Welsh employers deliver the lowest levels of training of any UK nation, a new report has found.
The latest Employer Skills Survey, by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES), has revealed that 62% of employers in Wales had provided training in the last 12 months, compared to the UK average of 66%.
Skills shortage vacancies have also increased, with employers unable to fill one fifth of all vacancies due to difficulty finding a candidate with the rights skills for the job. Skilled trade occupations are one of the worst affected by the shortage, with almost half of these vacancies remaining unfilled due to a lack of relevant skills.
Other findings revealed that nine out of 10 employers with a skills shortage vacancy said a lack of new recruits with the right skills has meant increased workloads for other employees.
However, there has also been a rise in job vacancies across Wales, with a 14% increase over the past two years and 3,000 more vacancies offered in 2013 compared to 2011.
Scott Waddington, CEO of SA Brain and Co and UKCES commissioner for Wales said that offering regular, relevant training is one way of combatting the skills shortage issue.
“If employers are continually developing the skills of their workforce, more people are given opportunities to progress in their work, and more employers have access to the talent they need.
“Closer links between employers and training providers can also offer a solution to this issue. By creating more collaboration between both sides we can ensure future skills shortages are avoided, with employers giving training providers accurate information on the skills they need, and education providers tailoring courses to create more employable recruits.”
Ken Skates, deputy minister for skills and technology, added: “Although this trend has been seen across the UK, it shows that we as government must focus our efforts on supporting the skills that employers value whilst also encouraging employers and individuals to invest alongside us in developing those skills.”
