Employees have been urged to take “ownership” of their careers by developing their own talent by Charles Logan, director at Hays.

Logan’s comments follow a new Hays survey of workers in the private sector, which shows while 61% of workers complain their employer is not doing enough to invest in their skills, 37% aren’t tackling talent shortfalls themselves. Of those that are 60% say the only action they are taking to keep up with the skills needed by their industry is staying up-to-date with trends through trade magazines and seminars.

Meanwhile, just a third are looking to obtain relevant qualifications or are enrolling on courses to enhance specialist skills.

Logan says: “Many employers have understandably been focusing on immediate survival and agility over recent years, and our research indicates that they may themselves be unsure about the skills they will require in years to come.

“But, employees also need to start taking ownership of their career. Many sectors are still experiencing skills shortages, with employers unable to fill key positions. To take advantage of these vacancies, jobseekers should invest in their future by developing skills that are needed by businesses. They will need to talk to experts in the field and undertake their own research to find out what skills are needed now and in the future.”