UK 'must reform skills system'

A radical reform of the UK's skills system is needed to ensure the country keeps pace with global competition, a new report has concluded.

The Ambition 2020 document from the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) found that ten million people will need to improve their skills if the UK is to be one of the top eight countries for skills, jobs and productivity by 2020.

It stated that in addition to an increase in the number of apprenticeships available to young people, there is also a need for more information regarding the courses and qualifications available to employees.

"Economic success rests on three legs - skills, jobs and productivity - and we are well below average on the first of these," said Chris Humphries, chief executive of the UKCES.

"Unless swift and decisive action is taken, we can expect the UK's economy to begin to slide down the international rankings," he warned.

Earlier this year, the UKCES reported that at the height of the recession, three per cent of employees had vacancies they were unable to fill because they could not find staff with suitable skills.

This was a slight fall on 2007, when five per cent were left with unfilled posts, suggesting that the recession may have encouraged workers to take up extra training to boost their employability.