Glut of manufacturing jobs go begging, WM survey reveals

Nearly 90% of sites said they were hiring. However recruitment was being blighted by poor quality applicants lacking basic skills and motivation, site managers claimed. The warning comes as official figures show the number of youngsters claiming long term job seekers allowance has trebled in the past year. "Finding well rounded capable individuals is not easy," said one respondent. "Many candidates cannot even send in an application without errors. Other look good on paper then fall apart at interview." Skilled engineering positions were most in demand among over 60 manufacturing respondents to the research. Vacancies for unskilled shopfloor and junior level positions were also rife. Just 9% said the quality of applicants seen so far had been above average. The shortfall has left employers facing lengthy recruitment processes with around a quarter recruiting for six months or more. "It would appear that ambitious, highly motivated engineers aren't interested in our industry," complained a respondent. The draught in engineering talent was compounded by an education system that ignored manufacturing said some quarters. One manufacturer said: "We need to promote engineering more in schools..I would like to see teachers coming into our factories to understand what we do and what we need." Another respondent added: "The majority of youngsters don't want to get their hands dirty and would sooner sit at a PC in a call centre." Over 1m 18-24 year olds are currently unemployed according to latest ONS figures. WM has launched a Starved of Skills campaign calling for a parliamentary debate on the plethora of manufacturing jobs that remain unfilled. Sign our petition here: Sign up at www.petition.co.uk/starved-of-skills.