Students excel at IT

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New recruits are impressing employers with their IT skills, but not their maths and English, according to a survey by the Confederation of Business Industry (CBI) and recruitment firmPertemps.

Of the 507 respondents to the 2007 Employment Trends Survey, 92 per cent said that as employers, they are satisfied with the IT skills of the school leavers - a good thing for companies, as half UK employees use computers in their daily work, the CBI said.

"Young people are clearly doing some things very well. These technology-smart whiz kids are making a great impression at businesses with their expertise in IT and computing," said Richard Lambert, CBI director-general, in a statement. "Their fluency with iPods, mobiles and MySpace has translated well into the workplace, and often gives them an edge over their bosses."

ICT has become a compulsory part of the curriculum for students aged five to 16, contributing to a 47 per cent increase in students sitting the ICT GCSE over the last decade, the CBI said. "The greater focus on IT in schools and investment in computers is also helping," added Lambert.

Teenagers may be impressing bosses with their tech-savvy, but half of employers are unhappy with literacy and maths skills, the study found. The CBI said just 47 per cent of students achieved a C-grade or better in GCSE English or Maths in 2006 - meaning 340,000 are below employers' benchmark standard. Due to this, one in seven businesses has had to retrain new hires on what should have been classroom basics.

"The challenge ahead is for schools to channel that same enthusiasm into numeracy and literacy skills, where far too many young people are struggling," said Lambert. "Maths and English skills are a vital bedrock for further learning, and are essential both in the workplace and in life. We have to sharpen the skills of more of our young people, so that they are starting from the strongest possible position."

According to the survey, 86 per cent of employers think that improving such basic skills should be a top focus for the government.

"Basic literacy and numeracy problems are a nightmare for business and for individuals, so we have to get these essentials right. Progress has been made, but it is nowhere near enough, especially considering the massive investment made in education," said Lambert. "The implications of not doing so are grave. We simply cannot match the labour costs of India, China, and other emerging economies, and only a higher-skilled workforce will keep the UK competitive. The under-qualified will be left to choose from an ever dwindling pool of unskilled jobs."

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