A definitive guide to understanding Northern Ireland's changing skills profile, problems in filling vacancies and related skills and training 'gaps' has been launched by the Government.

The Department for Employment and Learning has published the document, Northern Ireland Skills Monitoring Survey 2005: Main Report. 



The report provides an overview of the issues connected with current vacancies, looks at a variety of skill shortages, skill gaps - such as in the building industry - and training from an employer’s perspective and difficulties in filling vacancies, as well as retention difficulties.

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In particular it will help inform the work of the important Skills Expert Group which has been established to advise on the process of identifying skills needs and to make recommendations on the steps required to meet those needs.

The principal benefit of this report is that it provides a valuable insight into employer skill needs.

The report updates findings from the Northern Ireland Skills Monitoring Survey 2002 and this information provides the Department with some useful comparisons over time.

The research links well with the Department’s Skills Strategy under the theme “understanding the demand for skills” and will help inform current skill requirements and the future planning and funding of post-16s education and training.

(BMcC)