Parliamentary Search

Written question asked by Adrian Sanders (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 2 July 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 6 July 2009. It was answered by Lord Brennan of Canton (Labour) on Thursday, 16 July 2009 on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Skilled Workers

Question
To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent assessment his Department has made of the level of skills shortage in each (a) industrial sector and (b) region.
Answer

The National Employer Skills Survey 2007 report, published in May 2008, provides the most recent data available on the skills shortages in each sector and region.(a) Table 1 shows the number and proportion of Skills Shortage Vacancies (SSVs) by Sector Skills Council sector (LSC, 2008: p.56):

Table 1
Vacancies¹ SSVs¹ Percentage of vacancies that are SSVs SSVs per 1,000 employees
Unweighted base 52,867 10,399
All England 619,675 130,000 21 6
Lantra 8,450 2,475 ²29 8
Cogent 6,650 1,400 21 4
Proskills UK 3,975 950 24 ³3
Improve Ltd. 5,300 550 ³10 ³2
Skillfast-UK 3,875 975 25 5
Semta 23,200 7,150 31 6
Energy and Utility Skills 6,100 500 ³8 ³2
ConstructionSkills 36,700 14,625 ²40 ²14
SummitSkills 8,075 2,000 25 9
Automotive Skills 11,200 2,975 27 6
Skillsmart Retail 52,675 7,250 14 ³3
People 1st 67,725 12,675 19 8
GoSkills 10,825 2,475 23 6
Skills for Logistics 11,000 2,075 19 ³3
Financial Services Skills Council 30,450 4,725 16 5
Asset Skills 24,725 5,125 21 6
e-skills UK 22,650 6,275 28 10
Government Skills 9,750 1,475 15 4
Skills for Justice 3,900 275 ³7 ³1
Lifelong Learning UK 19,500 2,625 ³13 ³3
Skills for Health 30,500 3,850 13 ³2
Skills for Care and Development 29,800 4,700 ³16 5
Skillset 7,075 2,900 ²41 ²23
Creative and Cultural Skills 7,325 1,650 23 8
SkillsActive 7,000 1,375 20 5
Non-SSC employers 171,275 36,875 22 6
¹ Denote base sizes of 25 to 49 and should be treated with caution.
² Indicates particularly high values
³ Indicates particularly low values.
Notes:
Figures rounded to the nearest 25.
'*' Used where the base size was less than 25.

(b) Table 2 shows the number and proportion of Skills Shortage Vacancies (SSVs) per region (LSC, 2008: p.48):

Table 2
Vacancies¹ SSVs¹ Percentage of vacancies that are SSVs SSVs per 1,000 employees
Unweighted base 10,399
Overall 619,675 130,000 21 6
Region
Eastern 64,225 12,475 19 5
East Midlands 40,975 8,450 21 5
London 126,875 32,850 26 8
North East 23,400 4,600 20 5
North West 75,225 13,000 17 4
South East 115,450 25,650 22 7
South West 58,575 12,750 22 6
West Midlands 61,350 9,975 16 4
Yorkshire and The Humber 53,600 10,250 19 5
¹ Denote base sizes of 25 to 49 and should be treated with caution.
Base: All employment
Notes:
Vacancy and SSV figures rounded to the nearest 25.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
496 c580-1W; 284619
Session
2008-09
Subjects
Vacancies Skilled workers
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk