Report highlights key needs

Employers in Greater Manchester struggle to fill more than one in every seven vacancies because of skills shortages, a new report has revealed.

Manchester Enterprises, the not-for-profit economic development agency for Greater Manchester, has released a new skills priorities statement, outlining key learning needs for the area.

The goal is to reduce the number of hard-to-fill vacancies due to skills shortages, as reported by Greater Manchester employers as part of the 2004 Greater Manchester Employers Skills Survey, the results of which were published recently.

The report revealed high numbers of vacancies in construction, creative, engineering, food, life sciences, manufacturing and textiles.

Manchester Enterprises deputy chief executive Paul Thomas said: “The production of the 2006 Skills Priorities statement has involved widespread research and consultation with local employers, training organisations, the Learning and Skills Council and other key agencies responsible for the training and development of the workforce in Greater Manchester.

“All these agencies are committed to continuing to encourage and support employers to identify and address the current and future skills requirement of their workforces as a key contributor to business and broader economic development.”