Nine out of ten English companies are struggling with a lack of suitable trained employees, with entry -level vacancies that form the biggest challenge, according to a study by the Ministry of Education.
The study, in which 1500 employers were investigated, showed that 32 percent of the skills fees are in small and medium -sized enterprises in entry positions, while specialized roles are another 29 percent good.
Specsavers, the optician chain, was used as a case study in the report. Dena Wyatt, the head of the company of student places, said: “We are looking for qualified people in the field and they are just not there.” Wyatt emphasized a shortage of both technical and IT options, in addition to softer skills such as customer service and team management.
Despite these shortcomings, the study found a decrease in the number of companies offering training schedules, such as students, boot camps or higher technical qualifications (HTQs). Just over half of the companies (54 percent) considered or implemented such programs in 2025 compared to 60 percent in 2024. Of those who were reluctant to invest in further training, a third said that the costs were the most important barrier And almost a quarter the available options.
Wyatt emphasized the value of student places when closing the skills gap at Specsavers, which trains 650 to 750 students annually. The company’s initiative has led to a qualifying percentage of 60 percent, above the national average for colleges for further education. Part of its student expenditure is covered by the levying of the government, introduced in 2017 to finance vocational training.
Baroness Smith van Malvern, Minister of Skills and Equalities, insisted that cooperation between the government and the industry is of crucial importance to meet the future personnel needs of the country, including the growing demand in areas such as AI, green technology and construction. “Meeting the skills needs of the following decade is central to the government’s plan for change,” she said.
The report also registered a decrease in the concerns of employers about the preservation of staff, a decrease up to 27 percent of 40 percent in 2024, which indicates that progress in keeping trained employees. For smaller companies such as the software company Mesma, which is established in Newcastle, competing with larger employers, however, remains a challenge. Chief Executive Louise Doyle said that internships and technical educational routes are vital for finding and developing new talent, so that small companies can ‘grow’ employees in ways that meet their specific needs.