Technology and engineering companies are still very worried about a lack of recruits with the necessary skill levels for the job.

Companies even believe the skills shortage is serious enough to restrict business growth over the next few years, according to this year’s CBI/Pearson Education and Skills survey.

The CBI/Pearson, which surveyed over a million employees in 310 UK-based companies, said the results “underlines the skills challenge facing the UK”.

• 2 in 3 businesses (68%) expect their need for staff with higher level skills to grow in the years ahead, but more than half of those surveyed (55%) fear that they will not be able to access enough workers with the required skills.
• Demand for highly skilled workers is particularly strong in sectors critical to the re-balancing of the economy – engineering, science and high-tech (74%), construction (73%) and manufacturing (69%).

Firms report said they had difficulties in recruiting staff with the necessary science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) skills, with half (52%) of firms experiencing (or expecting within three years) a shortfall of experienced staff.