Graduates lack soft skills, firms state

News Article - 01 June 2007
Category:

Many financial services firms in the UK are finding that the graduates they employ are lacking when it comes to soft skills, a study has shown.

Research by KPMG has found that while newly-qualified staff often have sound technical skills, they do not have appropriate soft skills such as problem solving and teamwork.

The firm's report, entitled Global Skills for Graduates in Financial Services, highlights that 62 per cent of UK businesses have trouble recruiting adequately skilled graduates who have a general standard of maths and analytical skills.

Ian Gomes, chairman of KPMG's new and emerging markets practice, said: "Our report shows that graduates are leaving education with inspiring theoretical knowledge but lack practical job related skills. There is a soft skills gap developing."

The Assessment Network urges firms not to confuse ability with experience when selecting new staff and make plans to address any areas where expertise is lacking in order to close any skills gaps.

Article keywords:

---

More industry news

• Think tank warns UK may have already slipped back into recession
• Growing demand for HR staff in technology and international sectors
• Boosting business growth a ‘priority’ to avoid Eurozone slowdown
• HMRC launches alternative disputes pilot scheme this week
• December employment statistics disregard gloomy recruitment predictions
• Eurozone manufacturing PMI shows modest improvement
• UK scores highly for economic governance by ratings agency
• Government launches two-year project focusing on manufacturing sector
• Burden of regulation on UK businesses ‘too high’

Back to news home page »