Employers are placing more emphasis on training staff within their overall talent policies, according to a new report from a professional development body. 

The findings come from the annual Resourcing and Talent Planning Survey from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), which was produced in association with recruitment company Hays. 

Three quarters (73%) of organisations have highlighted an increase in the number of unsuitable candidates for job vacancies, fuelled by the sheer weight of application numbers due to high levels of unemployment. However, more than half of employers (52%) believe that competition for talent is even greater, compared to 41% and 20% in 2010 and 2009 respectively. 

The survey also finds active engagement with Government policies aimed at supporting job seekers and bridging skills gaps. Strategies employers are adopting include increasing the use of apprenticeships (30%), increasing the use of interns (27%) and considering sponsoring students through university (10%). 

Claire McCartney, resourcing and talent planning adviser for CIPD, says: “High levels of unemployment have boosted quantity, but employers are still struggling with quality. Headlines focus on high levels of unemployment, but those stark statistics mask an ongoing struggle for employers to find the skills and experience they need to drive their businesses forward. Shortages of specialist and technical skills run the risk of slamming an unwelcome brake on the long-term competitiveness of the UK economy.” 

Julie Waddicor, managing director of Hays Human Resources, says: “The rate of youth unemployment continues to soar, but employers are still complaining about the lack of talent on the market. It’s crucial for organisations to communicate not only what skills they need now and in the future but also really sell themselves as an employer of choice in order to secure their talent pipeline in years to come. Equally, with university fees increasing there is a real need for more to be done to encourage businesses to take on apprentices and introduce other initiatives to help young people gain experience in the workplace. Only then will UK organisations really succeed in closing the skills gap.” 

Posted by Beth O’Shea

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