Skills in England 2003: volume 1: key messages

‘Skills in England 2003’, the third annual national skills assessment produced by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), provides a synthesises of the latest evidence that is available on the demand for, and supply of, skills in England. It is presented in four volumes. This volume contains the key messages and an overview of the research findings that are presented in the other three volumes. The key messages are: employers’ demands for skills are changing dramatically; the intensity of skill demand is increasing; while skills supply is improving, there is also evidence of skill mismatches that potentially damage economic performance; there is evidence that the overall demand for skills will continue to increase; greater importance is now attached to raising the demand for skills from employers although the main policy levers remain those of increasing skill supply; skills can improve organisational performance; creating greater equality of opportunity and overcoming social exclusion are dependent upon access to vocational education and training (VET); great value is attached to active labour market policy as a means of improving labour supply, raising skill levels, and improving the employability of the most disadvantaged in society; and many skill issues have important local and sector dimensions requiring continued research and monitoring.

Volumes two to four are indexed from TD/TNC 79.242 to TD/TNC 79.244. Show less