By Daniel Hunter
New research from Kepner-Tregoe, a global specialist provider of consulting and training services, has found that more than a quarter (27%) of senior business managers think university leavers still lack the right skills to enter the business world.
The research, which surveyed 500 senior business managers from across the UK to analyse strategy, decision making and performance, comes on the day that the TUC warned that the job outlook for the young is its toughest since 1994.
The findings reveal that while a third (35%) of managers thought university graduates are not getting the job they deserve, many have concerns about their absence of fundamental skills required to enter the workforce. More than one in seven (15%) stated that leavers lack the basic numeracy skills for business, although 28% accepted that they are creative thinkers.
“The results of our research do not bode well for some new graduates," Martin Wing, Managing Director Europe, Kepner-Tregoe commented.
"Whilst over two thirds of managers surveyed believe graduates do have the necessary skills to enter the job market, these perceptions, right or wrong mean that 27% of the new graduate workforce needs some sort of help, either in developing the right skills or promoting the skills they have in a better way.
"If companies have a strategy in place to both train and integrate new employees into a business, employing graduates can be a hugely beneficial step.”
“This ‘skills gap’ is often a concern for employers however, according to our research, almost a third of business leaders believe graduates are creative thinkers - a key trait that aids competitiveness in today’s marketplace. Companies should therefore begin to consider what graduates can do, rather than what they can’t. By adopting the right capability development strategy, businesses can not only capitalise on an eager workforce, but also nurture new employees into making a valuable contribution to their company.”
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