I am writing to you regarding the Recruitment & Employment Confederation CEO Neil Carberry’s quote in your article ‘Skills shortages could cost UK economy £30bn a year’ (recruiter.co.uk, 18 July).

“The modelling we are launching today shows the damage that could be done if we don’t solve these shortages – more than £30bn in lost potential every year, as well as lower productivity, lower wage growth and rising inflation.”

I don’t believe I have read anywhere else that a labour shortage results in lower wage growth. A simple Google of this shows multiple examples of authoritative authors writing quite the opposite.

It is a ridiculous statement bordering on the unforgivably stupid. How can one take Carberry remotely seriously? Amateurish.

Bran Sharpe

Editor’s comment:

In response, the REC told Recruiter it would like to direct the reader to the full report, ‘Overcoming shortages – How to create a sustainable labour market’, which they can download from its website (click here). All the economic modelling is explained in full there, particularly on p16-17 of the report, the REC adds.

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