Companies are blaming the UK education system for the soaring levels of complaints about the difficulty of finding staff, according to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).

The BCC”s latest quarterly economic survey shows the proportion of companies having difficulty finding skilled employees has risen by 50% in the last decade.

By the end of 2004, 43% of companies complained of a skills shortage.

BCC director-general David Frost, is urging ministers to improve vocational training and careers services for young people.

Next month’s government green paper on youth services is expected to feature an overhaul of careers provision through the Connexions advice network.