Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning, Iain Gray will today (Monday 4 November 2002) launch a new initiative to improve the operation of Scotland's labour market by ensuring people, employers, education and training providers have first class information on the skills the economy needs.

The Minister will join Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise, Robert Crawford and Director of Skills at Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Alex Paterson at the SE headquarters in Atlantic Quay, Glasgow.

Iain Gray MSP will unveil FS's new highly interactive website, a key tool in disseminating labour market information and reveal the results of the first ever large-scale survey of employers in Scotland.

The survey shows that while skill shortages are uncommon there are currently 12,000 vacancies which are hard-to-fill in Scotland because applicantslacked the necessary skills, qualifications or experience for the job. That was out of a total of 65,000 vacancies with skill shortages equivalent to 0.6% of jobs in Scotland.

Iain Gray, Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning said:

"When we set up FutureSkills Scotland in July 2001 our vision was one of improving the availability, accessibility and dissemination of Labour Market intelligence across Scotland. The publication of this, the largest skills survey ever commissioned in Scotland, is a major part of realising this vision.

"Some 8,500 workplaces took the time to respond. Now, for the first time, we have reliable, up to date and relevant information about the state of the labour market in Scotland. The next step is to begin acting upon this powerful data. Planning now for the skills of the future can ensure that we develop exactly the type of long term, sustainable growth in the economy that our enterprise strategy Smart, Successful Scotland sets out to achieve."

Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise, Robert Crawford said:

"There is no doubt that skills and learning is a vital part of Scotland's economic development and Futureskills Scotland is one of Scottish Enterprise's major activities in this area.

"The skills of our people will be one of the most important weapons in our drive to build Scotland into one of the world's most successful economies.

"Set up in partnership with Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Futureskills Scotland has been established to improve access to labour market intelligence across Scotland and analyse the labour market to inform policy making and resource allocation.

"With an ageing population, it is now more important than ever to invest in learning in order to develop the skills of our young people and develop the skills of the current workforce throughout their working lives."

More than 8,500 Scottish workplaces participated in the Employers Survey, which aims to provide hard evidence about skill issues form the employers' perspective, particularly skill shortages and skill gaps.

Stephen Boyle, Director of Futureskills Scotland said:

"For the first time, the Employers Skill Survey gives us robust evidence from employers about a range of skill issues.  No longer do we have to relyon anecdote."

The survey also shows:

* Skill gaps - people already in jobs who are not fully proficient -
were more extensive.  133,000 employees have skill deficiencies, but 60% of these arise because people have recently started the job or because they have not completed their training.
* Where skill deficiencies exist, people most lack 'soft skills' like
communication, team working and customer handling.
* Skill deficiencies are most common in lower-skilled jobs.
* Organisations that report skill problems are more likely than the average to have been growing and to provide training for their staff.  That raises the possibility of extensive 'latent' skill deficiencies, where employers do not recognise that more investment in their workforce could yield improvements in performance.  That is a real challenge for Scotland.

Stephen Boyle said: "Futureskills Scotland is about being smarter with labour market intelligence, about looking ahead to predict future skillsdemand."

Skills intelligence will be fed into national training programmes, the careers advice service Careers Scotland, the new Sector Skills Councils, universities and colleges to assist people to make choices about work, education or training that will help lead Scotland to better jobs and higher
wages.

Director of Skills at Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Alex Paterson said:

"Scotland's future competitiveness requires an approach that focuses on meeting the needs of learners, employers and the wider economy and make sure that Scottish people - whatever their age or background - get access to thevery best advice on career choices."

Futureskills Scotland website