Did you know that 22% of jobs in the UK require no more than compulsory-level schooling (e.g. GCSE or Standard grades).

This is the second highest level in the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) and compares poorly to countries like Germany, Japan and Sweden with 5% or less.

The UK also has the second highest level of over-qualification in the OECD, which means that too many people are not able to put the skills they have to productive use.

Unsurprisingly, the UKs productivity levels compare poorly in contrast to their key international competitors.

It is argued that this is the failing of consecutive government administrations who focused almost exclusively on boosting the supply of skills, while neglecting the need to stimulate greater employer demand for investment in skills and to support effective skills utilisation.

Reference

Churchard, C. (2014) Is Low Pay HR’s Business? People Management. June 2014, pp.34-38.