Quarterly survey shows skills shortage in Coventry and Warwickshire
The latest Quarterly Economic Survey from Coventry and Warwickshire Chambers of Commerce shows that two thirds of small businesses in the area are facing difficulty recruiting suitable staff because of a sever skills shortage. 68% of the firms questioned in the survey, who employ between 10 – 49 people, said they faced recruitment problems.
A similar number of respondents, 65%, blamed the low numbers of job applicants with necessary skills for the hiring issues they faced, which fits into the national pattern as evidenced by a national report by the British Chambers of Commerce which suggested that skills shortages are at near record levels across the country.
The CEO of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber, Louise Bennett said: “The stats relating to skills shortages across the country are concerning and Coventry and Warwickshire is no different. Just over half of all our respondents said that a lcak of skills was holding back their business, with more than two thirds of small businesses saying they were facing recruitment difficulties.”
“There are ways to improve this situation and ourselves, alongside Warwickshire County Council , recently launched a five point plan to tackle the skills shortage. We have designated business skills advisors to help business owners break down exactly what it is they need and how they can overcome the issues they are facing.”
One source of the problem is the relative lack of engagement between business and schools, which the Quarterly Economic Survey confirms. According to its findings only 7% of respondents said that they had any connections with schools.
Angela Joyce CEO and principal of Warwickshire College Group said: “We know that many businesses are concerned about skills shortages and for small business that can become a fundamental driver in business surviving, growing and developing.As with most areas in the country we have an ageing population and the decline in the youth demographic does not change until 2021, which accentuates the skills shortage issues.”
