Employers skill survey: existing survey evidence and its use in the analysis of skill deficiencies

A National Skills Task Force was established to assist the United Kingdom (UK) government in developing a National Skills Agenda. The Task Force provided evidence on the nature, extent and pattern of skill needs and shortages in the UK and possible directions for their future development. This evidence was summarised in 'Skills for all: research report from the National Skills Task Force', published in June 2000 [available in VOCEDplus at TD/TNC 62.657]. This report is one of a number of associated reports containing detailed information on various aspects of this research. These reports are indexed from TD/TNC 65.225 to TD/TNC 65.232 and at TD/TNC 71.314. Other reports related to the National Skills Task Force are indexed from TD/TNC 62.653 to TD/TNC 62.656 and TD/TNC 62.658.

This technical paper addresses four questions: (1) what surveys of skill deficiencies are currently produced in the UK? (2) how do respondents answer the questions in the surveys? (3) what can we learn from basic written reports and analysis of the survey results? and (4) do more sophisticated analytical methods alter views of the value of the survey information? The final section of the paper presents some brief conclusions about how useful survey information is for the identification of skill deficiencies. The paper includes a glossary of technical terms. An annex outlines current survey questions from the three main surveys currently in use in the UK. Show less