Most employers in the East of England see a lack of talent and skills as the biggest of inhibitors to business growth, according multi-sector recruiter Cooper Lomaz’s Business Barometer.

The survey shows 42% of employers see the main problem to be the lack of talent and skills, followed by poor transport links (29%) and lack of investment (21.7%) as hindering growth.

Meanwhile, 88% are confident about their immediate hiring prospects, expecting staff numbers to either remain static or to increase over the coming months.

Cooper Lomaz chief executive, Jane Lovell, says: “In my opinion, lack of talent and poor transport links go hand in hand.

“If people can’t commute to a job, they will take employment in other areas.”