School-leavers bette equipped than graduates

One in five employers believe school-leavers make better workers than university graduates, according to new research.

A survey of 1,000 firms by recruitment giant Adecco found more than half felt university graduates had unrealistic expectations of working life and one in three believed the education system was failing to equip young people with the skills required by British businesses.

Adecco called on the education system, employers and the government to tackle “substantial shortcomings” in workplace skills.

Newcomers to the world of work were found to be most lacking in interpersonal and computer skills, while one in four employers reported a lack of basic literacy and numeracy skills among graduates.

Chris Moore, of Adecco Group, said: “Britain has one of the best education systems in the world but it must deliver a talented, reliable graduate workforce that brings value to UK plc. Employers believe it is failing to do that.”