Skills shortages could harm low carbon economy

A survey of 400 businesses has revealed that only about half (47%) believe that the UK has the skills base to create a low carbon economy and to rebalance the manufacturing sector.
One in five employers report that they are already struggling to recruit new engineering graduates and, in future, even more engineers will be needed, so a green economy is to be created with a vibrant manufacturing sector.

The annual skills survey conducted by Europe’s largest professional society for engineers and technologists — the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) — reveals a significant lack of confidence among engineering employers that the UK can deliver on the Government’s ambitions in this regard.

IET Head of Policy Paul Davies said: "This is a stark warning that the UK will find it hard to take advantage of the demand for low carbon technologies unless we see some big changes and attract a substantial generation of new engineers very soon." He warned that the introduction of a cap on migration would mean the possibility that the situation could get even worse.

At present, 20% of professional scientific jobs in the UK are filled by migrants, Mr Davies said. Without the right number of highly skilled migrants and without the right number of highly skilled graduates, employers will struggle to find the people they need to engineer a low carbon economy.

The 2010 IET skills survey is available at http://www.theiet.org/factfiles/education/skill-survey.cfm.