'Worsening' skills shortage almost doubled in the last year

The UK’s “spiralling skills gap” has worsened in the past year as there are almost two jobs available per candidate, according to Adzuna.

The online job board has published its latest report. It reveals the UK skills shortage is “worsening”. Last year in October there were 0.95 candidates per role. That number has plummeted during the past 12 months. There were 0.54 candidates per role in October 2015. There were a total of 1,229,131 advertised vacancies in the UK last month.

Doug Monro is a Co-Founder at Adzuna. He says that the multitude of vacancies doesn’t equate to all candidates being able to find employment with the same ease. To find a job, he says, candidates have to possess the right set of skills.

Monro continues: “Rising vacancies are signalling a spiralling skills gap, which appears to be worsening as many positions are left empty. As the festive season approaches, employers and companies are yet again reliant on the delicate yet crucial role internally migrating workers and workers from overseas have to play.”