Tue, 8 Sep 2009
The UK must increase the pace at which it works to
develop skills, an expert has claimed.
More needs to be done in order to reach target levels for skills development, an expert has claimed, following the publication of a new report into progress toward meeting targets for skills levels in the country by 2020.
The Ambition 2020: World Class Skills and Jobs for the UK report, published by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, proposes a number of measures to boost skills levels in the UK in order for the country to remain a global competitor.
Chief executive of the commission Chris Humphries said that while there has been an increase in the number of people with higher-level skills, more progress still needs to be made, particularly in the area of numeracy.
"If we do not do more [than is currently being done], based on the progress to 2006 we are not going to hit those skills aspirations of being in the top quartile," he said.
Mr Humphries added that there is currently a "skills race" taking place and the country needs to work to make improvements yet more quickly.
Every government in the developing world is now focusing in improving skills levels among citizens, he said, noting that the UK needs to work to match this to retain its position as leader in upping economic performance.
Such challenging goals require "radical action" to be taken both by government and employers, he said.
The recent Ambition 2020 report found that while UK productivity has increased relative to other nations, employment has deteriorated. If action on skills is not taken, Britain is likely to slip down the rankings of skills levels, the report predicted.
Thanks for your help,
The learndirect team