Education 'must match job needs'

Published on Thursday 13 March 2008 20:13

SCOTLAND will only achieve greater economic success if the country's education and training system is more closely aligned to the needs of employers.

According to the Scottish Council for Development and Industry (SCDI), schools and universities must take notice of both the "threats and opportunities" facing the Scottish economy.

Speaking at the SCDI's annual forum in St Andrews, the economic development group's chairman, Shonaig Macpherson, last night praised Scotland's "wonderfully strong record on education, training and employment compared to the rest of the UK". But she warned that the country's strength in education was not being translated into greater productivity or more robust economic growth.

Macpherson said that on most measures Scotland had a more highly-qualified population than other countries and there were more people in work.

But productivity was lower than the UK, which in turn was significantly behind the most productive nations, such as the US and France.

She added: "We need a better match between the often conflicting demands of learners, institutions and employers in the public, private and voluntary sectors, with Scottish employers struggling to fill one out of every two vacancies.

"Skills shortages are concentrated in sectors such as financial services, construction and tourism – all priority industries for Scotland, with huge potential to grow. But for businesses in these sectors to grow, there must be a supply of people with the right skills and qualifications."

She said Scotland would succeed in key industries, such as renewable energy, only if the right people with the right skills were attracted to these sectors.