New Recruits Lack Basic Skills

According to research by the Institute of Directors (IoD) many bosses believe the standard of education has declined over the last 10 years. In a survey 71% of its members believe that the literacy of new recruits has declined, while almost 60% believe that numeracy skills have fallen aswell.More than half those surveyed (52%) say there has a drop in basic communication skills.

Miles Templeman, the IoD's director-general, commented: "Despite the impressive political energy and resources focused on education, our members believe the government has generally performed poorly in this critical area. There is a substantial credibility gap between what official statistics show and what employers feel on the front line."

Jill Knight, the schools minister said: “We are tackling employers’ concerns head on with the biggest education reform for generations...Business concerns about school leavers reflect the reality of the changing economy - with historic low unemployment and the virtual elimination of low-skill jobs...The reality is that employers rightly have far higher expectations of workers' skills than ever before."