The engineering and technology sector is facing a
growingrecruitment crisisand there is little
confidence that the problem will improve in the short or medium
term the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)
warned.
The IET's annual skills survey of 500 companies also revealed
that businesses are turning to countries such as India, China and
South Africa to plug the
skills gap with 48% of companies recruiting from overseas in
the last 12 months to cover specific skills shortages.
Business that expect to face difficulties in recruiting suitably
qualified engineers, technicians or technologists over the next
four years had risen from 40.2% in 2006 to 51.8% in 2007.
Paul Jackson, director of professional operations at the IET,
said: "The engineering and technology sector is vital to the future
prosperity of the
UK's economy and an increase in skills shortages puts the
future growth, success and competitive advantage of many businesses
into serious doubt. The UK desperately needs to increase the pool
of engineers and technicians to meet demand."
IT Training and the skills crisis: the expert view >>
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