Department for Education: Employer Skills Survey 2024

UK Employer Skills Survey 2024: A Call for Strategic Action

The Department for Education and Skills England has published the Employer Skills Survey 2024, painting a complex picture of workforce development across the UK. While immediate hiring pressures appear to be easing, long-term trends reveal structural challenges that demand renewed focus from employers, educators, and policymakers.

📉 Investment in Training Continues to Decline

  • £53 billion was spent on training in 2024 — a drop of £6 billion compared to 2022.
  • Training spend per employee fell to £1,700, down from £1,960 in 2022 and nearly 30% lower than in 2011.
  • Only 59% of employers provided training, continuing a downward trend from 66% in 2017.
  • Although e-learning adoption rose slightly to 70%, average training days declined to just 5.7 per employee.

🧩 Skills Mismatches Persist Despite Fewer Vacancies

  • Just 17% of employers reported vacancies — down from 23% in 2022.
  • Yet 27% of those vacancies remain skills-shortage-related.
  • Construction (45%), Education (36%), and Manufacturing (34%) top the list for hard-to-fill roles due to skill gaps.
  • Critically, over 1.2 million workers are not fully proficient in their current roles.

🔍 Strategic Questions for UK Skills Development

This year’s findings spark critical reflection:

  • Is reduced investment in training a sign of smarter, more targeted spending — or a warning flag for long-term productivity?
  • How do we rebalance short-term hiring relief with sustained upskilling?
  • Where should digital learning, mentoring, and regional partnerships step in to close the gaps?

🚀 Opportunities for LSIP Collaboration

Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) have a vital role in responding to this data with targeted action:

  • Championing employer-led training strategies, especially among SMEs facing steep skills gaps.
  • Coordinating regional partnerships that tailor workforce development to local economic priorities.
  • Driving innovation in delivery models — blending e-learning with mentoring, vocational pathways, and industry placements.

Read the full survey from the Department for Education here

Please do reach out to the LSIP Team at lsip@kentinvictachamber.co.uk

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