Following a survey of 91,000 employers, the UK Commission for Employment and Skills dicovered more than one in five vacancies were because of a poor skill base. This suggests that the problem of poor skills, qualifications or real experience in the workforce is more prevelant in some industries more than others. The shortages were highlighted in the building, manufacturing and also plumbing. The study reported that employers struggled to find suitable workers with the “core skills” of communication, literacy and numeracy. The report also stated that there was an increase in the percentage of vacancies as a result of a lack of communication skills, particularly oral communication, as well as a lack of literacy and numeracy skills. Bromley Plumbers employ time served tradesmen. The report also highlighted nearly half of employers across the UK (48%) confessed to recruiting people with higher levels of skills and knowledge than were needed for the job.The research found the number of establishments providing training for their staff was back to levels seen before the recession. The truth is, the amount spent on training has decreased from 1,680 in 2011 to 1,590 in 2013 (per employee). The UKCES said only a small percentage of businesses were willing to give education leavers a first job, but if they did, they said the new joiners to be quite well prepared for work. People leaving College were reported by employers to be more “work ready” than school leavers of a similar age. A Bromley Plumber is a fully qualified tradesperson. A commissioner at UKCES Mr Douglas McCormick, sais that even though the rise in the number of vacancies is a positive sign that the economy is beginning to recover, it is a real possibility that businesses might not capitalise on the upturn because they don’t have the right personnel.