SUMMIT SKILLS
FUTURE SKILLS WALES
2005 SECTOR SKILLS SURVEY
2005
ACCAC
Association of School and
College Leaders
Basic Skills Agency
Careers Wales
CBI Wales
Dysg
FSW
PARTNERS
2005
ELWa
ESTYN
Federation of Small Businesses
Fforwm
Higher Education Funding Council
for Wales
Higher Education Wales
Jobcentre Plus
Local Government Data Unit –
Wales
National Training Federation
for Wales
Sector Skills Development Agency
Wales Council for Voluntary Action
Wales TUC
Welsh Assembly Government
Welsh Development Agency
Welsh Local Government
Association
The Future Skills Wales 2005 Sector Skills Survey was undertaken on behalf of the FSW Partnership by
GfK NOP Social Research.
FUTURE SKILLS WALES 2005 SECTOR SKILLS SURVEY
CONTENTS
1 Introduction
1.1 Background to the Future Skills Wales Survey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.2 Survey Methodology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.3 Defining the Sector Skills Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.4 Sample size for the sector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.5 Reporting Conventions and Report Outline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.6 Employer Characteristics for Summit Skills
1.6.1 Type of establishment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.6.2 Ownership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
1.6.3 Financial Turnover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2 Recruitment Difficulties and Skills Shortage Vacancies
2.1 Extent of vacancies, hard-to-fill vacancies and skill shortage vacancies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2.1.1 Comparison for Summit Skills over time (comparing 2003 and 2005) . . . . . 9
2.2 Occupational profile of hard-to-fill vacancies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2.3 Causes of hard-to-to fill vacancies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2.4 Responses to hard-to-fill vacancies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2.5 Nature of skill shortage vacancies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
3 Internal Skills Gaps
3.1 Incidence of skills gaps and distribution by occupational group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
3.1.1 Comparison for Summit Skills over time (comparing 2003 and 2005) . . . . 11
3.2 Skills lacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
3.3 Measures to overcome skills gaps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
4 Provision of off-the-job training
4.1 Incidence of off-the-job training and allocation across occupations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
4.2 Type of off-the-job training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
4.3 Barriers to provision of off-the-job training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
5 Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
6 Commentary from Summit Skills SSC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Appendix I: Glossary of Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Appendix II: Broad Sector and SSC definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Appendix III: Questionnaire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
1
SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Future
Skills Wales Survey
Welsh Assembly Government Strategy
documents such as The Learning Country
and The Skills Employment Action Plan
2005 highlight the importance of
joined-up working between employers,
employees and public sector agencies
to raise skills levels and support high
quality jobs in a growing economy.The
need for greater understanding of
employers’ skill needs has given rise to
a number of major surveys in Wales,
England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The Welsh research programme, Future
Skills Wales (FSW) has to date
consisted of three surveys (in 1998,
2003 and 2005) commissioned by the
FSW partnership.The focus of the first
two surveys was to look at the generic
skills requirements of employers in
Wales. In both years parallel studies
were carried out among Welsh
households to identify the skills offered
by the Welsh population.
The shape that the Future Skills Wales
2005 Sector Skills Survey (here on in
referred to as FSW 2005) has taken has
been influenced by two main factors:
The desire to produce a common
measure of skills deficiencies which
is consistent and comparable across
sectors, countries and regions
The need to make this information
available for Sector Skills Councils
for labour market analysis in Wales
enabling shared dialogue by using
comparable and consistent measures
2
SSCs are employer-led organisations
which have been charged with
developing skills and business
performance levels in specific, discrete
business sectors, based on detailed
analysis and understanding of the
sector. This has been given additional
impetus through the Sector Skills
Agreements, which are designed to
deliver action to meet priority skill
needs and which are based on rigorous
and robust evidence, including evidence
on skill deficiencies. FSW 2005 aims to
meet those needs as far as possible
within one survey, providing the
efficiencies of central co-ordination and
the benefits of comparability and
consistency.
The main aim of FSW 2005 is to
provide the FSW Partnership with
reliable information on the skills
deficiencies which employers in Wales
experience; information which can be
used to inform skills development
policy and planning.
The specific measures which the survey
covers are as follows:
The incidence of vacancies among
employers and the proportion of
vacancies which are proving hard to
fill because of a lack of suitable skills:
which occupations and which skills
are affected, and what actions have
been taken to deal with them
The number of employers that are
encountering skill gaps among the
workforce: the extent and nature of
these, which occupations/ skills are
affected, what is their impact and
what actions are taken to deal with
them
The incidence of off-the-job training
activity, which occupational groups
are receiving training and, where
applicable, the reasons why off-thejob training is not currently arranged
FUTURE SKILLS WALES 2005 SECTOR SKILLS SURVEY
1.2 Survey Methodology
The survey covered employers across
all business activities in Wales,
employers being defined as
establishments rather than enterprises
(i.e. any site where employees are
based, including head office sites, local/
regional sites and sites of single unit
enterprises). In order to be eligible for
the survey, establishments needed to
have at least one employee (in addition
to any owner/ manager). Based on
IDBR estimates1, there are 70,515 such
establishments in Wales employing just
over 1 million people.
The broad principles of sample design
were as follows:
Sectors were sampled proportionate
to the number of units in that
sector, assuming a total sample size
of approximately 6,000;
The resulting interview targets for
each sector were reviewed to check
whether they would deliver results
which were ±5% reliable at the 95%
confidence level (assuming medium
case scenario i.e. 70% figure).Where
there was a shortfall for particular
sector and where population size
allowed, the interview targets were
boosted to meet the reliability
requirement
Where size of population did not allow
boosting to this level, targets were
based on the maximum sample
achievable assuming a 4:1 success rate.
(In other words, every four approaches
to establishments would result in one
successful interview).
Within SSC, sample targets were
calculated proportionate to
employment, thereby ensuring that
large establishments (in terms of
employment) would be over sampled.
The target number of interviews per
size band within sector was calculated
on the basis of IDBR counts
(proportional to employment).The
sample was purchased from Experian2.
Some of the initial targets, particularly
in the larger size bands, exceeded the
number of records available from
Experian and had to be adjusted in
order to reflect this.
Business activities which are currently
unallocated to SSCs were grouped into
three categories for sampling and
analysis purposes: primary,
wholesale/retail and business/public
services in line with Sector Skills
Development Agency (SSDA) practice.
The main fieldwork was preceded by a
cognitive pilot and standard pilot, details
of which are provided in a separate
Technical Report. Fieldwork for the
main stage took place between 10th
The IDBR estimates are based on establishments with 1 or more employees, with an adjustment
made to exclude companies with 1 director as the only employee.The survey excluded all
establishments where the respondent was the only person working at that site, and therefore tables
illustrating establishment counts by employee size band show a minimum number of one employee.
1
Experian is a global information solutions company and provider of sample for the survey.The
Experian database incorporates what was the Yellow Pages database (now Yell.com).The National
Employers Skills Survey 2004, Skills in Scotland 2004 and Northern Ireland Skills Monitoring Survey
2002 also use Experian (previously BT’s Business Database) as a sample source.
2
3
March 2005 and 18th May 2005
inclusive using Computer Assisted
Telephone Interviewing. In total, 6,719
interviews were achieved, including 26
Welsh interviews.
1.3 Defining the Sector Skills
Council
The data for each establishment was
coded to 4-digit SIC code.As of
October 2005, Summit Skills was
defined by the following SIC codes:
45.31, 45.33, 52.72, and was described
as ‘building services engineering
(electro-technical, heating, ventilating, air
conditioning, refrigeration and
plumbing)’. It should be noted that
Summit Skills also have an interest in
31.1, 31.62, 33.3 (electrical equipment
manufacture and manufacture of
industrial process control equipment)
but these are covered by the SEMTA
Sector Skill Council.
1.4 Sample size for the Sector
A total of 200 interviews were
conducted with establishments in
Summit Skills. Further analysis has been
obtained by employment in
establishment as follows:
Micro (1-9 employees), unweighted
base size 150
10+ employees, unweighted base
size 50
Taking into account the finite
population correction factor3 and
design effects for the survey, the
confidence interval at the 95% level4 for
the data for Summit Skills is ±7% for a
survey result of 50 per cent and ±6%
for a survey result of 70 per cent.
1.5 Reporting Conventions and
Report Outline
This report uses a number of terms
throughout.These are defined as
follows:
recruitment problems refer to
vacancies that the employer
describes as either hard-to-fill or
skill-shortage related
hard-to-fill (HTF) vacancies are
those vacancies self classified by the
respondent as hard-to-fill
skill shortage vacancies (SSVs) are
defined as hard-to-fill vacancies
where applicants do not have the
required skills, work experience, or
qualifications required
skill gaps refer to the extent to
which employers perceive current
employees to be less than fully
proficient for their current job
The figures given in the report either
relate to the number of establishments
reporting a particular issue e.g. how
many employers are experiencing
The finite population correction factor: when enumerating a 95% confidence interval the conventional
way, in most cases, a simplified formula is used which makes the assumption that the universe
population is large relative to the sample size (as a rule of thumb, large is defined as around 5% of the
population). If the sample proportion exceeds this, then we have to apply a finite population
correction, which ensures that we are not over-estimating the real confidence interval.A large sample
to population ratio will lead to a narrower confidence.
3
A confidence interval of 95% means that we can be 95% certain that the true value of a survey
estimate lies within ±5 percentage points of the survey estimate. For example, for a survey estimate of
50%, with a 95% confidence interval, the true value would lie somewhere between 45% and 55%.
4
4
FUTURE SKILLS WALES 2005 SECTOR SKILLS SURVEY
vacancies, skill deficiencies etc, or to the
number of employees e.g. when
providing data on the number and
profile of staff employed; the number
and profile of vacancies and hard to fill
vacancies; and the number and profile
of staff with skill gaps.As a general rule
of thumb, where figures are based on
establishments they have been weighted
to the total number of establishments
employing at least two people (70,515).
Where figures are based on employees
they have been based on the total
employment base (1,083,795). Results
are reported on the weighted totals,
and tables show the unweighted base
as well as the weighted base. Comment
is also made as to whether this is an
establishment or employee base.
1.6 Employer Characteristics for
Summit Skills
1.6.1 Type of establishment
The FSW 2005 survey asked questions
related to the nature of the
establishment and this document
reports survey data.The survey data
shows that around three quarters were
single site (77 per cent), whilst 11 per
cent were multi site (not head office)
establishments.Thirteen per cent of
establishments were head offices.
All respondents were asked to classify
their establishment as private sector,
public sector, a charity organisation or a
voluntary organisation, and this
question allowed a multiple response.
All establishments surveyed were
private sector.
Clearly in some sectors sample sizes
are relatively small (reflecting the size
of the sector universe).Where care
needs to be taken in interpreting the
results this is pointed out in the
commentary. Further guidance on the
statistical reliability of figures is given in
the Technical Report (which will be
available on the website
www.futureskillswales.com).
Chart 1.1 Site description
Single site
77
One of multiple sites
not head office
Head office
13
11
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
% of establishments
Source: FSW 2005, question B4a.
Base: all establishments (Unweighted: 200; Weighted: 1,070). Single response.
5
1.6.2 Ownership
Over three quarter of establishments
were Welsh5 owned (78 per cent),
whilst two in ten were other UK
owned (21 per cent). A very small
proportion was other European Union
owned (1 per cent).
Chart 1.2 Ownership of establishments
Welsh Owned
78
Other UK owned
21
American 1
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
% of establishments
Source: FSW 2005, question B5.
Base: all establishments (Unweighted: 200; Weighted: 1,070). Single response.
Donít k now not shown (1%)
Ownership was self-classified by the respondent from a choice of Welsh owned, Other UK owned,
Other European Union owned, or Other (specify).
5
6
FUTURE SKILLS WALES 2005 SECTOR SKILLS SURVEY
1.6.3 Financial Turnover
For four in ten establishments (40 per
cent) the financial turnover6 at that site
was deemed to have increased over the
previous 12 months, and had stayed at
broadly the same level for a similar
proportion (41 per cent). For 7 per
cent of establishments, turnover had
decreased in the 12 months prior to
the survey.
Chart 1.3 Turnover in past 12 months
Increased
40
Roughly the same
41
Decreased
7
Too early to tell,
in business < 1yr
Don’t know
5
7
0
10
20
30
40
50
% of establishments
Source: FSW 2005, question B6.
Base: all establishments (Unweighted: 200; Weighted: 1,070). Single response.
6
For public sector, charity and voluntary organisations, the question referred to their ‘financial budget’.
7
SECTION 2: RECRUITMENT
DIFFICULTIES AND SKILL
SHORTAGE VACANCIES
Aside from asking about the number of
vacancies generally, FSW has taken two
more measures relating to vacancies:
Hard-to-fill vacancies – vacancies the
establishments understand to be
hard-to-fill
Skill shortage vacancies – vacancies
that establishments believe are hardto-fill due to applicants lacking the
skills or qualifications required.The
volume of these vacancies is
determined by the number of
respondents citing the following
reasons for the post being hard-tofill;
Applicants lack the qualifications
employers want
Applicants lack the relevant
experience
Applicants lack the relevant skills
we require
2.1 Extent of vacancies, hard-tofill vacancies and skill shortage
vacancies
On an establishment level:
10 per cent of establishments in
Summit Skills reported vacancies
compared with the all Wales average
of 21 per cent.
5 per cent of all establishments in
Summit Skills had vacancies that
were proving difficult to fill at the
time of interview (this equates to 55
per cent of all those with any
vacancies)
4 per cent of all establishments had
skill shortage vacancies (this equates
to 43 per cent of all those with any
vacancies)
The proportions of employers with
vacancies and hard-to-fill vacancies,
were lower than those reported at an
all Wales level (table 2.1).
Table 2.1 Extent of vacancies, hard-to-fill vacancies and skills shortage vacancies
(2005 data)
All Wales
Summit Skills
% of all establishments reporting vacancies
21
15
% of establishments with hard-to-fill vacancies
10
5
4
4
Number of vacancies
37,875
147
Number of hard-to-fill vacancies
13,242
84
5,405
66
Vacancies as % of employment
3.5
1.4
Hard-to-fill vacancies as a % of employment
1.2
0.8
Skill shortage vacancies as a % of employment
0.5
0.6
% of establishments with skills shortage vacancies
Number of skill shortage vacancies
8
Source: Future Skills Wales 2005 * less than 0.5%, greater than zero
Base:All establishments (All Wales Unweighted: 6,719,Weighted: 70,515; Summit Skills
Unweighted: 282,Weighted 2,845). Note: hard-to-fill vacancies are a subgroup of ‘vacancies’
and skill shortage vacancies are a subgroup of hard-to-fill vacancies.All vacancies measures
are expressed as a percentage of all establishments in Wales/SSC.
FUTURE SKILLS WALES 2005 SECTOR SKILLS SURVEY
On a vacancy level, hard-to-fill vacancies
accounted for around six in ten of all
vacancies in this SSC (57 per cent).
Analysis by size of establishment shows
that smaller establishments tended to
be disproportionately affected by
recruitment problems. For example,
micro establishments (1 to 9
employees) accounted for 29 per cent
of employment but 51 per cent of
vacancies, 41 per cent of hard-to-fill
vacancies and 35 per cent of skill
shortage vacancies.
base size lower than 50 in terms of the
number of establishments reporting
hard-to-fill vacancies.
2.3 Causes of hard-to-to fill
vacancies
Further analysis of the characteristics of
hard-to-fill vacancies was not possible
in Summit Skills due to an unweighted
base size lower than 50 in terms of the
number of establishments reporting
hard-to-fill vacancies.
2.4 Responses to hard-to-fill
vacancies
2.1.1 Comparison for Summit
Skills over time (comparing 2003
and 2005)
Further analysis of the characteristics of
hard-to-fill vacancies was not possible
in Summit Skills due to an unweighted
base size lower than 50 in terms of the
number of establishments reporting
hard-to-fill vacancies.
No analysis was published from FSW
2003 for employers in Summit Skills.
2.2 Occupational profile of hardto-fill vacancies
Further analysis of the characteristics of
hard-to-fill vacancies was not possible
in Summit Skills due to an unweighted
Table 2.2 Summary of reported vacancies in Summit Skills by establishment
counts by employee size band
% share of total
employment
% share of all
vacancies
Total vacancies
as % of
employment
% share of
hard-to-fill
vacancies
Total hard-to-fill
vacancies as %
of employment
% share of skillshortage
vacancies
Survey-based estimates
1 to 9
29
51
2
41
1
35
10 +
71
49
1
59
1
65
Size of
establishment
100%
100%
Shaded columns show row percentages
Source: FSW 2005, questions C1, C2b, C6
100%
100%
9
2.5 Nature of skill shortage
vacancies
The number of establishments
reporting skill shortage vacancies was
too small for robust analysis, but we are
able to provide anecdotal information
pertaining to the types of technical and
practical skills that were lacking
amongst applicants for skill shortage
vacancies. Comments received from
employers in Summit Skills are provided
below for reference, together with the
type of occupation in which the skill
shortage was occurring.
Table 2.3 Other technical and practical skills lacking amongst applicants for skill
shortage vacancies (employers’ verbatim comments)
Comment
SOC group
10
Electrical knowledge
Senior Managers & Corporate Managers
Technical updates- relative experience needed
Senior Managers & Corporate Managers
IT skills, management skills, and technical and
accounts skills.
Sound, lighting and electrical backgrounds.
Business and Public service professionals
Good standard of electrical work needed to
correct regulations.
Source: Future Skills Wales 2005, question C9.
Good standard of electrical work needed
to correct regulations.
Skilled Metal & Electrical trades
FUTURE SKILLS WALES 2005 SECTOR SKILLS SURVEY
SECTION 3: INTERNAL
SKILL GAPS
3.1 Incidence of skill gaps and
distribution by occupational
group
Respondents were asked, of all their
staff in each occupational category,
what proportion were fully proficient at
their job.A skill gap is defined as
existing where, in the opinion of their
employer, an employee is not fully
proficient at their job.
22 per cent of establishments in Summit
Skills reported a skill gap (or a lack of
full proficiency) in any one occupational
group.The all Wales figure reported in
FSW 2005 was 18 per cent.
In terms of the number of employees,
the survey recorded a total of 1,063
employees with skill gaps at the time of
interview, representing 10 per cent of
total employment in Summit Skills.The
corresponding all Wales figure was 6
per cent.
The occupational categories in Summit
Skills that had the highest incidence of
skill gaps (i.e. number of skill gaps as a
proportion of total employment per
SOC group) were:
Elementary occupations (16 per cent)
Transport/Machine Operatives
(14 per cent)
Associate Professionals (12 per cent)
3.1.1 Comparison for Summit
Skills over time (comparing 2003
and 2005)
No analysis was published from FSW
2003 for employers in Summit Skills.
3.2 Skills lacking
Establishments that had experienced
skill gaps7 were asked to define what
skills they felt needed improving for an
occupation where staff members were
considered to be less than fully
proficient.
The number of establishments reporting
skill gaps was too small for robust
analysis, but we are able to provide
anecdotal information pertaining to the
types of other technical and practical
skills that were lacking amongst
employees. Comments received from
employers in Summit Skills are provided
below for reference, together with the
type of occupation in which the skill
shortage was occurring.
Skilled Trades (14 per cent)
Table 3.1 Incidence and number of skill gaps in Wales 2005 and in Summit Skills
Base:All establishments
Wales 2005 Summit Skills 2005
Weighted base
% of establishments reporting skill gaps
70,515
1,070
18
22
Source: Future Skills Wales 2005, question D7 (derived)
The results are based on skill gaps followed up in detail. If an establishment had more than 2 occupations
with skill gaps, just two were chosen at random for further investigation relating to skills lacking.
7
11
Table 3.2 Incidence of skill gaps and distribution across occupation groups
(2005 data)
Skill gaps as %
of total
employment
Total number
of employees
with skill gaps
Skills gaps as
% of total
employment
Summit Skills
Total number
of employees
with skill gaps
All Wales
63,803
6
1,063
10
Managers and senior officials
4,798
3
40
2
Professional occupations
4,290
3
67
6
Associate professionals
Administrative & secretarial
occupations
3,141
4
42
12
5,873
5
17
2
Skilled trades
6,109
7
689
14
Personal service occupations
5,591
6
0
0
Sales & customer service
15,431
10
10
4
Transport & machine operatives
11,146
8
144
14
7,426
6
64
16
ALL
Elementary occupations
Source: Future Skills Wales 2005, question D7(derived)
Base:All employees with skill gaps (All Wales Unweighted: 10,157,Weighted: 63,085;
Summit Skills Unweighted: 101,Weighted 809).).
3.3 Measures to overcome skill
gaps
All respondents who reported skill gaps
amongst their staff were asked what
measures, if any, they had taken to
overcome a lack of full proficiency at
that establishment.
12
All respondents who reported skill gaps
amongst their staff were asked what
measures, if any, they had taken to
overcome a lack of full proficiency at
that establishment.Again, the number of
establishments in Summit Skills
reporting skill gaps was too small for
robust analysis.
FUTURE SKILLS WALES 2005 SECTOR SKILLS SURVEY
Table 3.3 Other technical and practical skills lacking amongst employees skill
gaps (employers’ verbatim comments)
Comment
SOC Group
Doing more courses to keep up with the
industry/Accountancy.
New product knowledge.
Corporate Managers
Just general day to day running of the
company
Gaswork and oil work.
Managers and Proprietors in Agriculture and
Services
Science and technology professionals
Fitting heating and electrical equipment.
Science and technology associate
professionals
Secretarial and related occupations
Corporate Managers
SAGE qualifications needed/Job costing on
SAGE.
To widen their product knowledge within the Skilled metal and electrical trades
industry.
Need to be qualified to the CORGI
Skilled metal and electrical trades
standards/Relevant qualifications needed to
install gas.
Testing and inspections/Further installations
skills/ Fault finding skills.
New electrical skills.
Skilled metal and electrical trades
Basically their knowledge of gas regulations/
That's it really just knowledge of heating
systems.
Skilled metal and electrical trades
Skills that come with experience, in depth
knowledge of trade/
General trade skills/He is getting on the job
training from myself at the moment.
Update their current qualifications to do with
the changing regulations.
Because he is 28 years old and had no skills
when he came to me. He has been working
with us for 3 years so now he has the
experience where he can start doing the
exams that he needs.
Skilled metal and electrical trades
Job related skills.
Skilled metal and electrical trades
Hand tools/Power tools/Health and safety
issues such as ladders/Scaffolders/Accessing
engineering equipment.
Skilled metal and electrical trades
Satellite and communal CV application.
Skilled metal and electrical trades
Skilled metal and electrical trades
Skilled metal and electrical trades
Skilled metal and electrical trades
Skilled metal and electrical trades
13
Table 3.3 Other technical and practical skills lacking amongst employees skill
gaps (employers’ verbatim comments) [cont.]
Comment
SOC Group
Electricians have to be registered with
CORGI.
Needs improving/Gas engineer/Gas
installation/Technical skills.
Need to improve technical knowledge on
cylinders/Water regulations.
General manual and job related skills/Still in
training.
Apprentice-everything
Skilled metal and electrical trades
Plumbing and central heating skills/He's an
apprentice so he's still learning.
Further advance of electrical background.
Skilled construction and building trades
Skilled construction and building trades
Skilled construction and building trades
Skilled construction and building trades
Skilled construction and building trades
Sales occupations
Own branded system skills/Our
Elementary trades, plant and storage related
environmentally friendly system skills
occupations
General common sense really/The way to talk Elementary trades, plant and storage related
to clients and so on.
occupations
Plumbing and heating across the board
Elementary trades, plant and storage related
occupations
Training on boilers.
Elementary trades, plant and storage related
occupations
He is an apprentice electrician and it is going Elementary administration and service
to take him four years until he is fully
occupations
qualified.
Source: Future Skills Wales 2005, question D9.
14
FUTURE SKILLS WALES 2005 SECTOR SKILLS SURVEY
SECTION 4: PROVISION OF
OFF-THE-JOB TRAINING
4.1 Incidence of off-the-job
training and allocation across
occupations
58 per cent of employers had funded or
arranged off-the-job training for their
staff in the 12 months prior to the
interview, the same proportion was
recorded at the all Wales level
(58 per cent).
In terms of the types of occupations
receiving off-the-job training, this was
most likely to be funded or arranged
for Skilled Trades occupations (71 per
cent) and Managers/Senior Officials
(43 per cent).
Table 4.1 Incidence of off-the-job training and allocation across occupation
groups (2005 data)
Incidence of off-the-job training (question E1)
All Wales
Summit Skills
6,719
200
70,515
1,070
%
%
58
58
4,339
119
40,803
620
%
%
Managerial occupations
65
43
Professionals
25
17
Associate professionals
15
7
Administrative/secretarial occupations
35
20
Skilled trades
19
71
Personal service occupations
12
0
Sales/customer service
22
3
9
3
17
15
Base: all establishments
Unweighted
Weighted
% of establishments providing off the job training
Off-the-job training by occupation group (question E2)
Base: all establishments providing off-the-job training
Unweighted
Weighted
Transport/machine operatives
Elementary occupations
Source: Future Skills Wales 2005
15
Analysis by the size of establishment
revealed that off-the-job training was
more likely to be offered by
establishments employing ten or more
people than by micro establishments (69
per cent versus 55 per cent). Further
analysis in terms of the occupation types
receiving off-the-job training by size of
establishment was not possible due to
small base sizes.
4.2 Type of off-the-job training
In order to gauge what type of training
was being provided to employees,
respondents were asked whether the offthe-job training they provided was mainly
statutory (i.e. legally required), non
statutory or evenly split between the two.
Nearly four in ten establishments (38 per
cent) were providing mainly statutory
training, and this proportion was higher
than the average for Wales as a whole.A
fifth of establishments (21 per cent)
reported that off-the-job training was
mainly non-statutory, whilst 41 per cent
said that it was evenly split between the
two types.
4.3 Barriers to provision of offthe-job training
Establishments that had not funded or
arranged off-the-job training in the past
12 months were asked why, and this
was a multiple response question.
The reasons given were similar to
those at the all Wales level, with the
most common response (82 per cent)
being ‘staff have sufficient skills to do
their job’.
Time constraints and cost were also
commonly cited reasons:
36 per cent of establishments that
did not provide off-the-job training
cited time constraints
31 per cent mentioned the cost of
off-the-job training and 26 per cent
stated that they had no money
available to fund off-the-job training
Some establishments appeared to have
recognised a need for off-the-job
training but had not provided it
because there was no suitable training
available (23 per cent).
Table 4.2 Incidence of off-the-job training and allocation across occupation
groups by employment in establishment (2005 data)
Establishment count
by employee size band
Micro (1 – 9
10+
employees) employees
Incidence of off-the-job training
Base: all establishments
Unweighted
150
**50
Weighted
865
205
%
%
55
83
% of establishments providing off the job training
Source: Future Skills Wales 2005, question E1. ** small base (less than 100)
16
FUTURE SKILLS WALES 2005 SECTOR SKILLS SURVEY
Table 4.3:Types of off-the-job training (2005 data)
Base:All establishments providing off-the-job training
Unweighted
All Wales Summit Skills
4,339
119
40,803
620
%
%
Statutory, that is, because it is a legal requirement for your
staff to be trained in this area
23
38
Non statutory, that is, not legally required
33
21
Evenly split between the two
42
41
1
1
Weighted
Don’t know
Source: Future Skills Wales 2005, question E3. Multiple response allowed
When asked this question, respondents
were given a list of possible responses
and asked if there were any other
reasons why they had not funded offthe-job training in the previous 12
months.This resulted in 4 per cent of
establishments that were not providing
off-the-job training reporting that
‘training was providing by other
agencies/government/clients’.
Analysis by size of establishment (in
terms of numbers of employees) was
not possible in Summit Skills due to
small base sizes.
Table 4.4 Barriers to provision of off-the-job training (2005 data)
Base:All establishments not providing off-the-job
training
All Wales
Unweighted
Summit Skills
2,288
**75
28,850
418
%
%
Staff have sufficient skills to do their job
83
82
Cost of off-the-job training
24
31
Time constraints
38
36
No money available for training
23
26
There is no suitable training available
21
23
Lack of information on training available
26
30
Other training method preferred (e.g. on-the-job training)
60
61
Trained staff will be poached by other employers
20
26
2
2
Weighted
Others
Don’t know
2
Source: Future Skills Wales 2005, question E4
**small base (less than 100). Multiple response allowed. Mentions of 2% or more shown
2
17
SECTION 5: SUMMARY
Tackling recruitment difficulties
and skill shortages
Levels of vacancies and hard-to-fill
vacancies were lower in Summit Skills
that at the all Wales level.Thus, 10 per
cent of employers were experiencing
vacancies and 5 per cent of Summit
Skills establishments had hard-to-fill
vacancies.The level of skill shortage
vacancies was in line with the Wales
average (4 per cent).
Anecdotal data provided an indication
of the types of other technical and
practical skills lacking amongst
applicants for skill shortage vacancies,
and in which occupation types these
occurred. For example, some employers
thought that applicants for Skilled Metal
and Electrical Trades positions lacked
electrical skills that were to a standard
to meet regulations.
Addressing skill gaps and
deficiencies in the workforce
22 per cent of Summit Skills
establishments reported skill gaps, and
these were most likely to occur
amongst Elementary, Skilled Trades,
Transport and Machine Operatives and
Associate Professional occupations.
Anecdotal data provided an indication
of the types of other technical and
practical skills lacking and in which
occupation types these occurred. For
example, employees in Skilled Metal and
Electrical Trades in Summit Skills were
thought to lack qualifications for gas
installation and CORGI qualifications;
these needed to be kept up to date in
line with changing regulations.
18
Improving employer investment
in training and workforce
development
The proportion of employers investing
in off-the-job training was in line with
the average for Wales as a whole (58
per cent), and was most likely to be
funded or arranged for Skilled Trades
and Managers/Senior Officials.
Approximately four in ten
establishments that provided off-the-job
training said that this was mainly
statutory training and this proportion
was higher than that recorded for
Wales as a whole.
Whilst 82 per cent of employers in
Summit Skills that did not provide offthe-job training said that this was
because staff had sufficient skills to do
their jobs, other key barriers related to
a preference for other training methods
and time constraints.
FUTURE SKILLS WALES 2005 SECTOR SKILLS SURVEY
SECTION 6: COMMENTARY
FROM SUMMIT SKILLS SSC
Employer Characteristics for
Summit Skills
The sample survey of 200 respondents
characterises the sector as dominated
by sole traders.Welsh employers in the
Building Engineering Services footprint
constitute 3% of the total UK
population.The number of large
companies operating in Wales is small
by comparison; they bring in labour as
and when required.
Financial Turnover
Vacancy level is also intrinsically linked
to company turnover and performance.
Hard to fill vacancies can to an extent
be attributed to the fact that
companies require either a highly
qualified operative or a specialist skills
person who may very well be in
demand over the whole of the UK.
Welsh companies have to compete
with this. It is a fact that the most
qualified operatives in Wales tend to
work in England for greater
remuneration.
There was a mixed response to this
question. However, the figures indicate
the sensitivity of the sector to
economic influences. Forty per cent of
respondents in the footprint said that
there had been increased turnover and
41% stated that it had been static.This
may be caused by the type of market
that the employers are working in, i.e.
commercial or domestic.The type of
work being carried out by the different
sub-sectors captured in this survey is
also a possible factor, as some markets
within the sector are more buoyant
than others.
Internal Skills Gaps
Recruitment Difficulties and Skill
Shortage Vacancies.
Issues such as time constraints and
funding were cited as reasons why
participants in this survey had not
funded any training.This is a ‘Catch
Twenty-Two’ situation: when the
provision is made available they don’t
use it and then complain when the
provider removes the facilities. In terms
of time constraints if the training was
mandatory they would do it but there
is a belief in this sector that training
should be government supported.
Five per cent of all Summitskills firms
surveyed reported hard to fill vacancies,
which is half the Wales average. Health
and Safety legislation, the Office of the
Deputy Prime Minister and regulatory
bodies have required the sector to upskill itself which has had a direct impact
on the sector. Operatives are required
to hold a level 3 qualification before
they are recognised as qualified
operatives by the Building Engineering
Services sector.
Summit Skills as part of its SSA process
will be conducting further research into
the reasons why this is happening.
One of the reasons that we are aware
of is the requirement of operatives to
hold a level 3 qualification before they
are recognised as a qualified operative.
The sector has a reactive rather than
proactive attitude towards training,
which is probably one of the main
contributing factors for this finding.
Barriers to provision of off-thejob training.
19
APPENDIX I: GLOSSARY
OF TERMS
Business Eye
Generic skills
A free, impartial information service for
Wales created to find the answers to
business questions.Aimed at all types of
businesses or new start ups seeking
general business advice.Aims to put
businesses in contact with support
from the public, private or voluntary
sectors.
Skills that are transferable across most
jobs and without which it is very hard
to get work or progress in the labour
market.
Education and Learning Wales
(ELWa)
ELWa is an Assembly Sponsored Public
Body (ASPB) established by the
Learning and Skills Act 2000. Its remit
covers further education, governmentsupported training, adult community
learning and school sixth forms. ELWa’s
main statutory responsibilities are to:
Secure the provision of facilities for
post-16 education and training in
Wales (with the exception of higher
education);
Encourage young people and adults
to participate in learning;
Encourage employers to participate
in, and contribute to the costs of,
post-16 education and training.
These are the skills that are needed to
work for a particular employer,
reflecting the specific needs or methods
of that employer.
Hard-to-fill vacancies
Vacancies that are self classified by the
respondent as hard-to-fill.
Inter Departmental Business
Register (IDBR)
A list of UK businesses maintained by
National Statistics (NS) and combines
the former Central Statistical Office
(CSO) VAT based business register and
the former Employment Department
(ED) employment statistics system. It
complies with European Union
regulation 2186/93 on harmonisation of
business registers for statistical
purposes.
Establishment
Labour force
Any site where employees are based
and therefore including head office
sites, other local/regional sites and sites
of single unit enterprises.
The total number of workers available
for employment.The labour force is
made up of two distinct elements –
those who are in work and those who
are not in work but who would like to
be, given the opportunity.
Experian
20
Job specific skills
Global information solutions company
and provider of sample for the survey.
The Experian database incorporates
what was the Yellow Pages database
(now Yell.com).
Labour Force Survey
Largest regular household survey in the
UK.A nationally (UK) representative
sample of approximately 120,000
FUTURE SKILLS WALES 2005 SECTOR SKILLS SURVEY
people are interviewed over a three
month period.The survey asks a series
of questions about respondents’
personal circumstances and their labour
market activity. Results are published
every month for the latest available
three month period.
SOC
Recruitment problems
Independent, UK-wide organisations
developed by groups of influential
employers in industries or business
sectors of economic or strategic
significance. SSCs are employer-led and
actively involve trade unions,
professional bodies and other
stakeholders in the sector. SSCs are
licensed by the Secretary of State for
Education and Skills, in consultation
with Ministers in Scotland,Wales and
Northern Ireland, to tackle the skills
and productivity needs of their sector
throughout the UK.
Refers to vacancies that the employer
describes as either hard-to-fill or skillshortage related.
Skills deficiencies
Refers to the sum of skill gaps and skill
shortage vacancies.
Skill gap (Or internal skill gap)
The extent to which employers
perceive employees are less than fully
proficient for their current job.
Skills shortage
Where employers are unable to find
new staff with the skills that they
require.This is one of a number of
possible causes of a recruitment
difficulty.
Skill shortage vacancy
These vacancies are defined as hard-tofill vacancies where applicants do not
have the required skills, experience, or
qualifications.
Standard Occupational Classification
system used to provide a consistent
occupational breakdown for UK official
statistics.
Sector Skills Council (SSC)
SSC footprint
The coverage of a Sector Skills Council
in terms of types of industry that fall
within the remit of that SSC.The SIC
codes used are a ‘best fit’ of each SSC’s
core business sectors and the extent to
which this is an exact fit varies between
SSCs.
Vacancies
A measure of the level of recruitment
activity in the labour market.
SIC
Standard Industrial Classification system
used to provide a consistent industrial
breakdown for UK official statistics.
21
APPENDIX II: BROAD SECTOR
AND SSC DEFINITIONS
In line with other UK employer skill
surveys, sector analysis of FSW 2005
has moved towards defining sectors in
a manner more consistent with SSC
definitions of the sectors they cover,
rather than the more general
definitions of sector used in previous
surveys.
The SSC and its corresponding Broad
sector category are shown below
together with a description of the
sector and a definition in terms of
Standard Industrial Classification (SIC).
The SIC codes used are a ‘best fit’ of
the SSC’s core business sectors and the
extent to which this is an exact fit
varies between SSCs.
SSC names, description, SIC definitions and corresponding Broad Sector
category
SSC name
Summit Skills
SSC description
SIC definition
Broad Sector
Building services
45.31, 45.33
Construction
engineering (electrotechnical, heating,
ventilating, air
52.72
Wholesale/retail
conditioning,
refrigeration and
plumbing)
Summit Skills also have an interest in 31.1; 31.62; 33.3 (electrical equipment manufacture and
manufacture of industrial process control equipment), but which are within the core of SEMTA.
22
FUTURE SKILLS WALES 2005 SECTOR SKILLS SURVEY
APPENDIX III:
QUESTIONNAIRE
Future Skills Wales 2005
Future Skills Wales 2005
Sector Skills Survey
Employer Questionnaire
SCREENING QUESTIONS
ASK TELEPHONIST
S1.
S2.
Good morning/afternoon my name is ............. I am calling from NOP, an independent
research agency. We are conducting a major research project on behalf of the
Future Skills Wales Partnership. Can I just check, is that (INSERT ORGANISATION
NAME)?
Yes
1
No
2
TYPE
IN
CORRECT
NAME
We are conducting a survey about recruitment, human resources and workplace
skills. Can I speak to the person at this site, who has greatest involvement in these
sorts of issues?
If respondent attempts transfer to someone at another site
We need to speak to someone at this site rather than someone at another branch or office of
your organisation. Could I speak to the person at this site who would have the best overview of
the skills that your establishment needs its workers to have?
SINGLE CODE
Yes, correct
1
Go to A1
respondent speaking
Yes - transferred
2
Definite appointment
Soft appointment
Refusal
Refusal – company
policy
Refusal – taken part
in other survey
recently
Nobody at site to
answer questions
Not available in
deadline
Company too small/
<2 employment
Duplicate – already
called about this
survey
3
4
5
6
MAKE APPOINTMENT
CLOSE
7
8
9
10
11
1
September 2005
GfK NOP Social Research
23
Future Skills Wales 2005
A. INTRODUCTION
A1. READ OUT: Good morning/afternoon my name is ............. I am calling from NOP, an independent
research agency. We are conducting a major research project amongst employers in Wales concerning
recruitment of staff and skills levels within workforces, so that we better understand the future skills
needs of Wales. All information collected will be treated in strict confidence by NOP, in accordance with
the Data Protection Act. (ADD IF NECESSARY: The research is being conducted on behalf of the Future
Skills Wales Partnership).
If code 1 at S2
READ OUT: All information collected in the survey will be treated in strict confidence by NOP, in
accordance with the Data Protection Act. (ADD IF NECESSARY: The research is being conducted on
behalf of the Future Skills Wales Partnership).
INTERVIEWER NOTE: Stress if necessary that:
• The survey is conducted on behalf of the Future Skills Wales Partnership which includes the Welsh
Assembly Government, ELWa (Education & Learning Wales), WDA/Welsh Development Agency,
Sector Skills Councils and a whole host of public and Private sector representative bodies (read out
the following list if necessary).
ACCAC (the Qualifications, Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales), Basic Skills Agency,
Careers Wales, Confederation of British Industry in Wales, Dysg (the Learning and Skills Development
Agency’s operation in Wales), Higher Education Wales (The national organisation representing the
higher education sector in Wales), HEFCW (Higher Education Funding Council for Wales), JobCentre
Plus, ESTYN (Her Majesty’s Inspectorate for Education and Training in Wales), Federation of Small
Businesses, Fforwm (the national organisation representing further education colleges in Wales), Local
Government Data Unit - Wales, National Training Federation for Wales, Secondary Heads Association,
Sector Skills Development Agency, Wales Council for Voluntary Action, Wales TUC, and Welsh Local
Government Association
• Establishments have been randomly chosen from Yellow Pages
• No information about individuals or organisations will be identified in the results unless they ask
someone to contact them
• Respondents will be given the choice to receive a copy of the report of the findings at the end of the
interview
• If respondent has any queries about the survey, they may contact Joanne Corke of the FSW
Partnership on 01443 663716 or Viv Young at NOP on 020 7890 9840.
ASK: The interview should take no more than 15 - 20 minutes of your time, depending on your answers.
Would it be convenient to conduct the interview now or should I call back?
2
September 2005
GfK NOP Social Research
24
FUTURE SKILLS WALES 2005 SECTOR SKILLS SURVEY
Future Skills Wales 2005
IF RESPONDENT ATTEMPTS TO TRANSFER: We are interested in the activities at this particular site.
It is unlikely that anyone else will know about this as well as you do.
SINGLE CODE
Yes - continue
1
Continue
Definite appointment
3
MAKE APPOINTMENT
Soft appointment
4
Refusal
5
CLOSE
Refusal – company
6
policy
Refusal – taken part
7
in other survey
recently
Nobody at site to
8
answer questions
Not available in
9
deadline
Company too small/
10
<2 employment
Duplicate – already
11
called about this
survey
ASK ALL
3
September 2005
GfK NOP Social Research
25
Future Skills Wales 2005
B3.
How many employees - full-time and part-time (by part-time we mean people working
between 8 and 31 hours a week)- do you have at this site? Please include yourself
and all those on the payroll (INCLUDING directors and out-workers such as sales
representatives but not self-employed or outside contractors/agency staff).
TYPE IN EXACT NUMBER AND CATI WILL AUTOMATICALLY CODE – KEEP
RAW DATA HERE.
IF RESPONDENT IS UNSURE, PROMPT FOR APPROXIMATE NUMBER OR BEST
ESTIMATE. IF STILL DON’T KNOW, ASK THE FOLLOWING (and code first which
applies):
Is it:
A3.
1
1
2-4
2
5-9
3
10 -24
4
25 -49
5
50 -99
6
100-199
7
200- 249
8
250- 299
9
300+
10
Don’t know
11
THANK & CLOSE
THANK & CLOSE
Would you like the interview to be conducted in English or Welsh? DO NOT READ
OUT
English
1
CONTINUE
Welsh
2
READ OUT: I will need to
arrange for our Welsh
interviewer to call you back.
When is the best time of day to
contact you?
Note day/ time
Say Welsh, but don’t want to make
an appointment so will do now
3
CONTINUE
4
September 2005
GfK NOP Social Research
26
FUTURE SKILLS WALES 2005 SECTOR SKILLS SURVEY
Future Skills Wales 2005
READ OUT
For your information, the results from the survey will be held by the Future Skills Wales Partnership and
relevant Sector Skills Councils in the form of a database of results with individual company names
removed. All information will be used only for statistical purposes unless you ask for someone to contact
you.
B. ESTABLISHMENT DETAILS
Firstly, I would like to ask you some background information about this establishment or site. By
establishment or site, I mean this single location, even if it encompasses more than one building.
ASK ALL
B1.
Your establishment has been classified as … (READ OUT SIC DESCRIPTION
HELD ON DATABASE)
Is this correct?
Yes
No
2
1 GO TO B3
GO TO B2
ASK IF CODE 2 AT B1
B2.
What is the main product or service of this establishment? WRITE IN.
INTERVIEWER: PROBE AS NECESSARY
Eg. What is the main activity of this establishment?
What exactly is made or done at this establishment?
What material or machinery does that involve using?
TO BE CODED TO 4 DIGIT SIC 2003
(IF DK, THANK AND CLOSE)
B4A.
From the following, how would you describe your establishment? Is it . . . ? READ
OUT. SINGLE-CODE
a)
b)
c)
d)
Single site
Head office
Or, one of multiple sites, but
not head office
(Don’t know)
1
2
3
4
( )
5
September 2005
GfK NOP Social Research
27
Future Skills Wales 2005
b) And is it ….. READ OUT. MULTI-CODING ALLOWED
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
A Private sector organisation
A Public sector organisation
A voluntary sector
organisation
A Charity organisation
Other (please specify)
(Don’t know)
1
2
3
4
5
6
( )
ASK IF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING SIC CODES AT QUESTION B1 (75.11, 75.12, 75.13, 75.14,
75.21, 75.3)
c) Do you consider yourself to be part of… READ OUT. SINGLE CODE.
INTERVIEWER: if local office of a central government department, treat as central government.
If local council or body overseeing local government or local education authority, treat as local
government
Central government
1
B5.
Or Local government
2
DO NOT READ OUT: Neither
DO
NOT
READ
OUT:
Other
(SPECIFY)
DO NOT READ OUT: Don’t know / not
sure
3
4
5
[If single site, code 1 at B4] Are you….? [If not single site, codes 2- 4 at B4) Thinking
of the wider organisation, is it . .?. READ OUT. SINGLE CODE
a)
b)
c)
d)
Welsh owned
Other UK owned
Other European Union owned
(Other)
2
3
4
1
e)
Don’t know
5
ASK ALL
B6.
Within the last year, has the financial turnover (FOR PRIVATE SECTOR-CODE 1
AT B4b)/ financial budget (FOR PUBLIC SECTOR- CODE 2, 3, 4 AT B4b) at this
site increased or decreased, or has it stayed roughly at the same level? SINGLE
CODE ONLY
Increased
Decreased
Roughly at the same level
Don’t know
Too early to tell - have been
in business less than a year
1
2
3
4
5
6
September 2005
GfK NOP Social Research
28
FUTURE SKILLS WALES 2005 SECTOR SKILLS SURVEY
Future Skills Wales 2005
C. Current vacancies and recruitment difficulties
C1. I would now like to ask you about vacancies at this establishment. How many
vacancies, if any, do you currently have at this establishment for full or part time staff?
PROBE FOR BEST ESTIMATE
[WRITE IN NUMBER…….. (ALLOW DK . If 0 or DK, GO TO D1]
ASK ALL WITH VACANCIES AT C1
C2 IF C1>1: Are any of these vacancies proving hard to fill? / IF C1=1: Is the vacancy
proving hard to fill?
Yes
1
Go to C2
No
2
Go to D1
Don’t know
3
Go to D1
If Yes at C2 AND C1>1 (IF YES AT C2 AND C1=1, GO TO C3)
C2b - How many of your <textfil – no of vacancies at C1> are proving hard to fill?
[WRITE IN NUMBER…….. (ALLOW DK . If 0 or DK, GO TO D1]
C3. In which specific occupation(s) do you currently have hard to fill vacancies at
this establishment? I will record details for up to 6 different occupations.
PROMPT FOR FULL DETAILS TO ALLOW 2 DIGIT SOC CODING (e.g. what is
the job title? What type of manager are they? ) RECORD DETAILS FOR UP TO
6 OCCUPATIONS
C4 How many hard to fill vacancies do you currently have for <OCCUPATION
AT C3>? PROBE FOR BEST ESTIMATE
C3 – occupation type
Occupation 1
<text>
Occupation 2
<text>
Occupation 3
<text>
Occupation 4
<text>
Occupation 5
<text>
Occupation 6
<text>
C4 – number of
hard to fill
vacancies
TOTAL HARD TO FILL VACANCIES
[INTERVIEWER NOTE : total number of hard to fill vacancies at C4 must not be greater than C2B]
There is no C5
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Calculate the number (K) of different occupations for which a hard-to-fill
vacancy exists at this establishment.
K=
Questions C6-C9 are asked in turn for each of the K occupations with a
hard-to-fill vacancy. If K>2, select two of the hard-to-fill vacancy types at
random and ask questions C6-C9 about these vacancy types.
INTRODUCTION: I’d now like to ask you some questions about your hard-to-fill vacancies /
vacancy.
C6 What are the main reasons that the <OCCUPATION-k> vacancy is/ vacancies are
proving hard-to-fill? (DO NOT READ OUT. CODE ALL MENTIONED)
C6
Lack of skills the organisation demands
1
Lack of qualifications the organisation demands
2
Lack of work experience the organisation demands
3
Low number of applicants with the required attitude, motivation or
personality
4
Not enough people interested in this type of work
5
Low number of applicants generally
6
Wages lower than other firms
7
Benefits trap/problem with benefits
8
Location of the firm/poor public transport
9
Unattractive/poor terms and conditions of employment
10
Lack of/poor career progression
11
Job entails shift work /long/unsocial/irregular hours
12
Too much competition from other employers
13
Other (WRITE IN)
15
No particular reason
16
Don’t know
17
There is no C7
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IF CODES 1, 2 OR 3 AT C6, ASK C8.
C8 Which of the following skills, if any, have you found difficult to obtain from applicants for
<OCCUPATION-k>? (READ OUT AND CODE ALL MENTIONED).
CATI TO ROTATE PRECODES, BUT ALWAYS KEEP CODES 1,2,11 IN SAME ORDER.
CODE 13 (OTHER) SHOULD ALWAYS APPEAR AT THE END OF THE LIST.
General IT user skills
1
IT professional skills
2
Other technical and practical skills
11
Communication skills
3
Customer handling skills
4
Team working skills
5
Problem solving skills
6
Management skills
7
Using numbers
8
Literacy skills
9
Welsh language skills
10
None
12
And what else? (WRITE IN)
13
(DO NOT READ OUT) Don’t know
14
If CODE 11 ‘Other Technical and practical skills’ at C8, ASK
C9
You said you have found it difficult to obtain other technical and practical skills from applicants for
<occupation>. Exactly what types of technical and practical skills are you finding difficult to obtain?
If necessary: we are interested in skills that are specific to your industry or this job
[PROBE FOR DETAIL]
Open question
There is no C10
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ASK ALL WITH HARD TO FILL VACANCIES C2=YES
C11. Which measures have you taken, or do you plan to take, at this establishment to fill
the hard-to-fill vacancies, OVER AND ABOVE what you would do normally? (DO NOT
READ OUT. CODE ALL MENTIONED)
Offered higher pay or more incentives than normal
Offered enhanced terms and conditions
2
Considered a wider range of applicants
3
Changed the job specification by giving some of the tasks to other staff
4
Changed the job specification by automating some of the tasks
5
Hired part-time staff
6
Hired contract staff
7
Built links with schools/colleges/universities
8
Used more extensive range of recruitment channels than normal
9
Spent more on recruitment or used more expensive methods
10
Recruited staff from overseas
11
Been prepared to provide more training to less qualified recruits
12
Retrain existing staff
13
Contracted work out
14
Other (WRITE IN)
15
No particular measures taken/planned
16
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FUTURE SKILLS WALES 2005 SECTOR SKILLS SURVEY
Future Skills Wales 2005
D. Skill Gaps
I’d now like to turn to the skills within your existing workforce. Please do not think about any external
recruitment problems that you may face.
ASK ALL.
D1. Thinking about your current employees, would you say that there is a gap between
the types of skills that your current employees have now, and those that your company
needs to meet its business objectives?
If necessary: We are only interested in skills gaps that are holding back current business
objectives for your company/ organisation
Yes
1
Go to
(D2)
No
2
Go to
(D3)
D2. How significant is this skills gap, in terms of the effect on your establishment’s ability
to meet its business objectives? Would you say that the skills gap is having a ……
(READ OUT. CODE ONE ONLY)
Very significant/major effect
1
Significant effect
2
Minor effect
3
Or, no real effect
4
READ OUT
You said there were [ number of staff from B3] staff at this establishment, including yourself. I would like
you to break this number down into 9 specific occupation categories with no overlap. If staff have more
than one job, please only include them in their main function.
IF NECESSARY, INTERVIEWER READ OUT THE NINE CATEGORIES:
The nine categories are:
• Managers and Senior Managers
• Professional Occupations
• Associate Professional & Technical Occupations
• Administrative and Secretarial Occupations
• Skilled Trades Occupations
• Personal Service Occupations
• Sales and Customer Service Occupations
• Process, Plant and Machine Operatives
• Elementary Occupations
I will be able to give you examples to help you categorise your staff. Some of these categories may not
apply to your establishment, but are intended to cover ALL possible occupations.
IF NECESSARY: I will be able to fax or e mail you a sheet listing the different categories to help you
with this if necessary
TAKE FAX NUMBER/ E MAIL ADDRESS AND FAX / E MAIL SHEET TO RESPONDENT.
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D3. Do you employ any of your staff at this establishment as: (READ OUT EACH
BOLD HEADING ONLY). This will include:
CATI TO LIST 2 DIGIT SOC SUBGROUPS
IF NECESSARY, REMIND RESPONDENT: If staff have more than one job role,
please only include them in their main function.
ALLOW NULL = NONE OF THIS TYPE OF STAFF EMPLOYED
1. Yes
2. No
FOR ALL CODE 1 (YES) AT D3, ASK.
D4. Thinking about <textfil 1 digit SOC category from D3> how many in this group are
employed as… (INSERT EACH SUBGROUP OF MAIN GROUPS CODED AT D3]
IF MORE THAN 100 EMPLOYEES AT B3, ADD IF NECESSARY: This can be an approximate number
D4
D3
Number of
Yes No
employees
Managers & Senior Managers, ADD IF NECESSARY
The types of occupation that might fit in this category are:
[IF ‘MANUFACTURING’ (SIC ON SAMPLE – 01 to 45)
directors/ chief executives of major organisations, finance
and functional managers, farm managers
[IF ‘SERVICES’ (SIC ON SAMPLE: 50-74 & 93) directors/
chief executives of major organisations, functional
managers, quality managers, restaurant managers.]
[IF ‘PUBLIC SECTOR’ SIC ON SAMPLE 75-99 excl 93):
senior officials, social services managers, officers in
armed forces, housing managers),
Corporate Managers, ADD IF NECESSARY
[IF ‘MANUFACTURING’ (SIC ON SAMPLE – 01 to 45) for
example directors/ chief executives of major organisations,
functional managers, quality managers]
[IF ‘SERVICES’ (SIC ON SAMPLE: 50-74 & 93) for
example directors/ chief executives of major organisations,
functional managers, quality managers.]
[IF ‘PUBLIC SECTOR’ SIC ON SAMPLE 75-99 excl 93): for example
senior officials in national and local government, social services
managers, officers in armed forces),
Managers and Proprietors in Agriculture and Services, ADD IF
NECESSARY
[IF ‘MANUFACTURING’ (SIC ON SAMPLE – 01 to 45)
farm managers, conservation managers, recycling
managers]
[IF ‘SERVICES’ (SIC ON SAMPLE: 50-74 & 93)
conference
managers,
restaurant
managers,
shopkeepers.]
[IF ‘PUBLIC SECTOR’ SIC ON SAMPLE 75-99 excl 93 housing
managers, refuse disposal managers, leisure services managers)
2
(1 – 99999)
(1 – 99999)
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Professional occupations, ADD IF NECESSARY The
types of occupation that might fit in this category are:
[IF ‘MANUFACTURING’ (SIC ON SAMPLE – 01 to 45)
professional engineers, IT strategy professionals,
accountants, scientific researchers]
[IF ‘SERVICES’ (SIC ON SAMPLE: 50-74 & 93)
accountants, IT strategy professionals, architects.]
[IF ‘PUBLIC SECTOR’ SIC ON SAMPLE 75-99 excl 93):
doctors, teachers, social workers, librarians.]
Science & technology professionals, ADD IF NECESSARY
For example, professional engineers, IT strategy professionals,
chemists)
Health professionals ADD IF NECESSARY
For example, doctors, pharmacists, vets)
Teaching and Research professionals ADD IF NECESSARY
For example, education officers/ inspectors, teachers, lecturers, scientific
researchers)
Business & public service professionals ADD IF NECESSARY
For example, solicitors, accountants, social workers, clergy, librarians)
Associate professional and technical occupations, ADD IF
NECESSARY The types of occupation that might fit in this category are:
[IF ‘MANUFACTURING’ (SIC ON SAMPLE – 01 to 45) science and
engineering technicians, IT technicians.]
[IF ‘SERVICES’ (SIC ON SAMPLE: 50-74 & 93) insurance underwriters,
investment advisers, writers/journalists, sales reps, fitness instructors]
[IF ‘PUBLIC SECTOR’ SIC ON SAMPLE 75-99 excl 93) nurses, junior
ranks of armed services, community workers, housing officers, train
drivers.]
Science & technology associate professionals ADD IF NECESSARY
For example, science and engineering technicians, IT technicians
Health & social welfare associate professionals ADD IF NECESSARY
For example, nurses, community workers, paramedics, therapists
Protective service occupations ADD IF NECESSARY
For example, junior ranks of armed forces, police)
Culture, media & sport occupations ADD IF NECESSARY
For example, fitness instructors, writers/ journalists, graphic designers
Business & Public service associate professionals ADD IF NECESSARY
For example, insurance underwriters, sales reps, housing officers, train
drivers)
Administrative and Secretarial occupations, ADD IF
NECESSARY The types of occupation that might fit in this
category are: office assistants, local government
assistants, receptionists, PAs
Administrative occupations, ADD IF NECESSARY:
For example, wage clerks, local government assistants, civil service
executive officers,}
Secretarial and Related occupations, ADD IF NECESSARY
For example secretaries, receptionists & PAs, telephonists
1
2
(1 – 99999)
(1 – 99999)
(1 – 99999)
(1 – 99999)
1
2
(1 – 99999)
(1 – 99999)
(1 – 99999)
(1 – 99999)
(1 – 99999)
1
2
(1 – 99999)
(1 – 99999)
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Skilled trades occupations, ADD IF NECESSARY: The types of
1
occupation that might fit in this category are: electricians, gardeners,
motor mechanics, TV engineers, chefs
Skilled agricultural trades ADD IF NECESSARY
For example, farmers, gardeners
Skilled metal and electrical trades ADD IF NECESSARY
For example, electricians, TV engineers, machine setters, mechanics)
Skilled construction & building trades ADD IF NECESSARY
For example, roofers, decorators, plasterers)
Textiles, printing and other skilled trades ADD IF NECESSARY
For example, printers, chefs, florists)
Personal service occupations, ADD IF NECESSARY The types of
1
occupation that might fit in this category are: travel agents, hairdressers,
nursery nurses, teaching assistants.]
Caring personal service occupations ADD IF NECESSARY
For example, care assistants, nursery nurses, dental nurses)
Leisure and other personal service occupations ADD IF NECESSARY
For example, travel agents, hairdressers, undertakers, teaching
assistants)
Sales and customer service occupations, ADD IF NECESSARY The
1
types of occupation that might fit in this category are:, sales assistants,
telesales, call centre agents, customer care occupations
Sales occupations ADD IF NECESSARY
For example, sales assistants, telesales, rent collectors, market traders)
Customer Service occupations ADD IF NECESSARY
For example, call centre agents, customer care occupations
Process, plant and machine operatives, ADD IF NECESSARY The
types of occupation that might fit in this category are: machine operators, 1
assemblers, van drivers, construction, scaffolders
Process, plant and machine operatives ADD IF NECESSARY
For example, machine operatives, assemblers, machinists )
Transport & mobile machine drivers and operatives ADD IF
NECESSARY
For example, van, fork lift, bus, taxi drivers)
Elementary occupations, ADD IF NECESSARY The
types of occupation that might fit in this category are:
[IF ‘MANUFACTURING’ (SIC ON SAMPLE – 01 to 45)
labourers, packers, cleaners]
[IF ‘SERVICES’ (SIC ON SAMPLE: 50-74 & 93) bar staff,
/catering assistants, security guards, cleaners]
[IF ‘PUBLIC SECTOR’ SIC ON SAMPLE 75-99 excl 93)
cleaners, road sweepers, traffic wardens]
Elementary trades, plant and storage related occupations ADD IF
NECESSARY
1
2
(1 – 99999)
(1 – 99999)
(1 – 99999)
(1 – 99999)
2
(1 – 99999)
(1 – 99999)
2
(1 – 99999)
(1 – 99999)
2
(1 – 99999)
(1 – 99999)
2
(1 – 99999)
For example, farm workers, labourers, packers
Elementary administration and service occupations ADD IF
NECESSARY
For example, security guards, cleaners, catering assistants, traffic
wardens )
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(1 – 99999)
FUTURE SKILLS WALES 2005 SECTOR SKILLS SURVEY
Future Skills Wales 2005
THERE IS NO D5 OR D6
READ OUT:
IN EACH CATEGORY OF STAFF, I’D LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY YOU THINK ARE
FULLY PROFICIENT AT THEIR JOB. BY FULLY PROFICIENT I MEAN SOMEONE WHO
IS ABLE TO DO THEIR JOB TO THE REQUIRED LEVEL.
ASK ALL, ASKING FOR EACH OCCUPATION WITH 1+ EMPLOYEES AT D4.
CATI TO LIST ONLY THOSE 2 DIGIT SOC OCCUPATIONS CODED AT D4
D7. How many of your existing [INSERT NUMBER] staff employed as <OCCUPATION>
D4> would you regard as fully proficient at their job?
0-NUMBER
GIVEN AT D4
Managerial occupations
Corporate Managers
Managers and Proprietors in Agriculture and Services
Professional occupations
Science & technology professionals)
Health professionals)
Teaching and Research professionals
Business & public service professionals
Associate professional and technical occupations
Science & technology associate professionals
Health & social welfare associate professionals
Protective service occupations
Culture, media & sport occupations
Business & Public service associate professionals
Administrative & secretarial occupations
Administrative
Secretarial and Related occupations)
Skilled trades occupations
Skilled agricultural trades
Skilled metal and electrical trades
Skilled construction & building trades
Textiles, printing and other skilled trades
Personal service occupations
Caring personal service occupations
Leisure and other personal service occupations
Sales and customer service occupations,
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Sales occupations
Customer Service occupations
Process, plant and machine operatives
Process, plant and machine operatives
Transport & mobile machine drivers and operatives
Elementary occupations
Elementary trades, plant and storage related occupations)
Elementary administration and service occupations)
(CATI TO CALCUATE LACK OF FULL PROFICIENCY (P) FOR EACH CATEGORY. THIS IS DEFINED
P=D4 – D7)
If more than one occupation at D7 lacking full proficiency), CATI to randomly select TWO occupations for
follow up at D8 and D9
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ASK D8 – D10 FOR EACH OCCUPATION IN TURN WHERE P >0
D8 And still thinking about your <occupation at D7> staff that lack full proficiency, which, if
any of the following skills do you feel need improving? (READ OUT AND CODE ALL
MENTIONED)
CATI TO ROTATE PRECODES, BUT ALWAYS KEEP CODES 1,2,11 IN SAME ORDER.
CODE 13 (OTHER) SHOULD ALWAYS APPEAR AT THE END OF THE LIST.
General IT user skills
1
IT professional skills
2
Other technical and practical skills
11
Communication skills
3
Customer handling skills
4
Team working skills
5
Problem solving skills
6
Management skills
7
Using numbers
8
Literacy skills
9
Welsh language skills
10
None
12
And what else? (WRITE IN)
13
(DO NOT READ OUT) Don’t know
14
If CODE 11 ‘Other Technical and practical skills’ at D8, ASK
D9
You said that other technical and practical skills need improving. Exactly what types of technical
and practical skills need improvement amongst <occupation> staff? [PROBE FOR DETAIL]
If necessary: we are interested in skills that are specific to your industry or this job
Open question
There is no D10
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ASK WHERE P>0 FOR ANY OCCUPATION TYPE at D7
D11. Thinking more generally about all types of staff, which of the following measures, if
any, have you taken at this establishment to overcome a lack of full proficiency amongst
some of your staff? (READ OUT AND CODE ALL MENTIONED
Increased recruitment
1
Provided further training/development amongst the existing workforce
2
Changed working practices
3
Reallocated work within the company
4
Expanded recruitment channels
5
Increased/expanded trainee programmes
6
And what else? (WRITE IN)
10
(DO NOT READ OUT) No particular measures taken
11
(DO NOT READ OUT) Don’t Know
12
ASK ALL LACKING FULL PROFICIENCY IN >1 OCCUPATION AT D7
D12. You told me that the following occupations lacked full proficiency [CATI to list all occupations
types at D7 that lack full proficiency, i.e. P>0]. In which occupation types is a lack of full proficiency most
critical in terms of holding back business objectives? [If more than 2 occupations at D7 where P>0, read
out] I will list up to two occupation types.
[List up to 2 occupations where P>0]
[IF 1 OCCUPATION LACKING FULL PROFICIENCY AT D7
You told me that <occupation type at D7 that lacks full proficiency, i.e. P>0) lacks full proficiency. Is this
lack of full proficiency critical in terms of holding back business objectives?]
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FUTURE SKILLS WALES 2005 SECTOR SKILLS SURVEY
Future Skills Wales 2005
E. Off-the-job training
I AM NOW GOING TO ASK YOU SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT OFF-THE-JOB TRAINING. BY OFFTHE-JOB TRAINING, I MEAN ALL TRAINING THAT WAS DELIVERED AWAY FROM THE
IMMEDIATE WORK POSITION. IT CAN BE GIVEN AT YOUR PREMISES OR ELSEWHERE. IT
INCLUDES ALL SORTS OF COURSES – FULL OR PART-TIME; CORRESPONDENCE, DISTANCE
OR E-LEARNING; HEALTH AND SAFETY TRAINING AND SO ON – AS LONG AS IT IS FUNDED OR
ARRANGED BY YOUR ORGANISATION FOR EMPLOYEES WORKING AT THIS SITE.
E1 ASK ALL.
Has your organisation funded or arranged any off-the-job training for any of your employees
over the past 12 months at this site?
Yes
1
Go to
(E2)
No
2
Go to
(E4)
Don’t know
3
Go to
Section F
ASK IF HAVE ARRANGED/FUNDED TRAINING CODE 1 AT E1
E2
And for which of the following categories of employees at this site has off-the-job
training been funded or arranged over the past year?
PROGRAMME CATI TO LIST ONLY 1 DIGIT SOC OCCUPATIONS FROM D6
MULTI-CODE
Code all that
apply
Managerial occupations
Professional occupations
Associate professional and technical occupations
Administrative & secretarial occupations
Sales and customer service occupations,
Skilled trades occupations
Personal service occupations
Process, plant and machine operatives
Elementary occupations
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E3. Is the off-the-job training you provide for staff at this establishment mainly …
ONE ONLY
Statutory, that is, because it is a legal requirement for your staff to be
trained in this area (add if necessary: for example Health and Safety
1
training)
Or Non statutory, that is, not legally required
READ OUT. CODE
2
Or, evenly split between the two?
3
(Don’t know)
4
E4 Why have you not arranged or funded any off-the-job training for your employees over
the past 12 months. Is it because of any of the following …… (READ OUT. CODE ALL
THAT APPLY)
Staff have sufficient skills to do their job
1
Cost of off-the-job training
2
Time constraints
3
No money available for training
4
There is no suitable training available
5
Lack of information on training available
6
Other training method preferred (e.g. on-the-job training)
7
Trained staff will be poached by other employers
8
Any other reason (WRITE IN)
9
There is no E5
F. Final Section
F1.
Do you currently have any skills or training issues on which you would like information or help in
identifying the most appropriate source of advice? I can pass on your details on to Business Eye or
ELWa and ask someone to call you. [If necessary: we will only pass on your name, address and
telephone number, NOT your answers to this survey]
Interviewer notes: BUSINESS EYE is a free, impartial information service for Wales created to find the
answer to your business questions. Whether you are an established company, a new idea, a sole trader
or an employer of hundreds, Business Eye can put you in contact with support from the public, private or
voluntary sectors.
ELWa helps businesses to improve results through making the most of their people.
1. Yes
2. No
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Future Skills Wales 2005
F2. The results will be reported in the autumn of 2005, and we can arrange for the Future Skills Wales
Partnership to send you a summary of results. Would you like to receive a copy? EMPHASISE: If you
do want a copy we will only pass on your name and address, and not your answers to this survey.
Yes
1
No
2
CHECK CORRECT
ADDRESS AND POSTCODE
ON SAMPLE
Continue
Thank and close
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