The perceived skills gap identified by employers in a recent study has been described by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) as worrying.
According to an Education and Skills Survey conducted by the CBI and Edexcel, 53 per cent of employers lack confidence in their ability to find sufficiently skilled workers for their organisation.
Indeed, even basic skills, such as the ability to read, write and perform simple arithmetic, were identified by organisations as major causes of concern.
"Being skilled is all the more important in an increasingly global economy and our message to students is that your hard work to attain the right skills and good qualifications is essential to securing quality, well-paid jobs after school, college or university," stated CBI deputy director-general John Cridland.
A lobbying organisation, the CBI aims to help create and the conditions in which UK firms can compete and prosper.