Skills and Demand in Industry report 2008

Business expansion was cited by nearly 66 per cent of companies as a key driver for recruitment, with staff turnover and diversification into new areas coming second and third. 81 per cent report that they need experienced staff, but 49 per cent report problems recruiting such people. 70 per cent would recruit graduates and 63 per cent postgraduates, but only 40 per cent would be recruiting school leavers. Nearly a third of companies did not believe they would be able to recruit sufficient qualified staff in 2008. Females accounted for 6 per cent of the overall engineering and technology workforce.