Following the publication of A-Level results last week, employer research undertaken by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) shows that close to three quarters of recruiters think it is now vital for job-seekers to have at least two A-Level grades or a vocational equivalent before entering the workplace.
In fact, according to the LSC survey one in seven employers would not recruit someone if they had less than two A-Level grades (A-C) or the vocational equivalent and a further one in 10 would ignore their CV from the outset.
Plus nearly half (47 per cent) of employers believe the situation will worsen for existing job applicants in 2013, when the compulsory participation age is raised to age 17 years (18 in 2015) and they will be competing with better skilled youngsters.
This year’s results may change things but currently less than half of young people gain two A-Levels or the vocational equivalent by age 19 – and although eight in 10 employers in the LSC survey said they might hire someone who doesn’t have these qualifications, the majority of recruiters (56 per cent) said they would only recruit them for low or unskilled jobs – often on a low wage with limited prospects.
But the Learning and Skills Council is urging young people to look at all the options open to them – such as a work-based learning programme, enrolling on an Apprenticeship, attending college or accepting a job with training opportunities.
