Solving future skills challenges

6 August 2018

Innovation, growth and skills Reports

Download Send Email

Educating more people at university could bring significant benefits to the UK economy as the Fourth Industrial Revolution increases future demand for higher level skills.

The onset of the Fourth Industrial Revolution – automation, robotics, artificial intelligence and digital technology – and challenges of Brexit and an ageing population are creating rising demand for those with qualifications above Level 4 (HNC/Ds, foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate degrees). This report looks at the rapid pace of change and increasing complexity of work, and highlights the need for continual skill upgrading, lifelong learning and study of higher education qualifications at all levels.

The report reveals that:

In 2016, 440,000 new professional jobs were created, yet there were only 316,690 first-degree UK-based graduates, leaving a recruitment gap of 123,310, more than double the gap in 2015.
65% of children entering primary schools today will ultimately work in new jobs and functions that don’t currently exist.
Nearly 50% of the subject knowledge acquired during the first year of a four-year technical degree is outdated by the time students graduate.
Employers have told CBI that they expect the greatest demand for skills over the next three to five years will be for people with higher level skills where there is already a much higher employment rate.
By 2030, it is estimated that there will be a UK talent deficit of between 600,000 to 1.2 million workers for both our financial and business sector, and technology, media and telecommunications sector.
Universities provide many professional and technical qualifications, estimated at around 41% of overall provision.

Episode 1: UUK's Greg Wade talks to Joe Marshall - Chief Executive, National Centre for Universities and Business. Episode 1 transcript (PDF)

Episode 2: UUK's Greg Wade talks to Stephen Isherwood - Chief Executive, Institute of Student Employers. Episode 2 transcript (PDF)

Episode 3: UUK's Greg Wade talks to Bob Gilworth - President, AGCAS. Episode 3 transcript (PDF)

News

Time is running out to save Erasmus+: Losing study abroad scheme would blow a hole in UK economic prospects

9 March 2020

More than 17,000 UK university students are hoping that the UK Government can negotiate continued involvement in Erasmus+ in its trade discussions with the European Union so they can develop important and necessary skills overseas next year.

Golden opportunity for government to reverse decline in adult learning

2 March 2020

Greater financial support would supercharge lifelong learning

Blog

Seizing the opportunity to offer more people the chance of success through higher technical education

21 November 2019

UUK's Greg Wade on the 'missing middle' of level 4 and 5 qualifications, and shares UUK's recommendations for government.

General election 2019: skills, jobs and opportunity

11 November 2019

UUK's Karmjit Kaur on the policies that all parties should commit to, to ensure UK universities remain a global success story.