YOUNG Scots are not being taught the right skills to meet the needs of businesses, leaving the country facing a chronic shortage of staff, a new report warns.

More than half of firms are struggling to fill skilled posts and face severe shortages in future unless the education system is changed, the CBI Scotland study found.

Four years after businessman Sir Ian Wood called for a radical education shake-up to plug the skills gap, the CBI report reveals the crisis has intensified.

More than half of Scottish businesses lack confidence in being able to find high-skilled workers needed in the future.

The CBI/Pearson education and skills survey found more than three-quarters of Scottish firms (77 per cent) expect to increase their number of high-skilled roles in the coming years.

But demand appears set to outstrip supply as 59 per cent lacked confidence in their ability to fill these roles.

The study also uncovered concerns around careers advice, with about nine in 10 Scottish firms (91 per cent) believing the existing service is “not good enough” – higher than the UK figure of 84 per cent.

CBI Scotland director Hugh Aitken said: “It’s encouraging to see that so many Scottish firms plan to hire into highly skilled roles but the fact both this survey and the CBI’s recent Pursuing Prosperity report shows that this isn’t being matched by a supply of talent is something we need to address urgently.

“With many firms identifying a person’s attitude as the most important factor when recruiting school and college leavers, we need a dual focus on academic achievement and the wider behaviours young people need to succeed.

“Improving attainment, creating more high-quality vocational options for young people and further increasing business interaction with the education system must be top priorities.

“Careers advice is a particular challenge for businesses in Scotland. It’s not just good advice that young people need. It’s early exposure to the workplace and a better understanding of the educational and career pathways that are available to them.”

Rod Bristow, president of Pearson UK and core markets, said: “Scotland’s education system needs to better meet the needs of Scottish business.”
According to Sir Ian Wood’s report, vocational training should be given far higher value to put it on a more equal footing with university qualifications.

A Skills Development Scotland spokesman said: “It’s encouraging to see employers planning to increase skilled roles and investment in workforce development. To be effective this needs commitment from business and industry alongside the provision of training opportunities.”

“And we’re working with schools, colleges and employers to promote improved relationships through web service Marketplace.”

A Colleges Scotland spokesman said: “Colleges have well established partnerships with employers enabling students to get the right skills, qualifications and work ethic they need to find a job or to progress on to university.

“The ongoing 15-24 Learner Journey Review is focused around ensuring flexible pathways. between education and employment, and colleges are working as part of the review to ensure young people and adult returners are able to access skills, education and training at the right time, and in the right place, to secure skilled employment in their chosen area and to reach their full potential”

Minister for Employability and Training Jamie Hepburn said: “I recognise the importance of ensuring our employers can access the skilled workforce they need. This is why the Scottish Government continues to invest significantly in higher education and to enhance our Modern Apprenticeship programme, including the introduction of higher level Graduate Level Apprenticeships, and are on target to meet our target of 30,000 new starts each year by 2020.”