CV Genius has released a UK Skills Gap Report focusing on the skills gap by providing an analysis of its current status and impact on the job market, unpacking the most affected skill areas and root causes, as well as offering insights on how employers and employees can navigate the issue.

“On the back of Brexit, COVID, and the digitisation of many jobs, combined with a systemic lack of focus on continuous learning, many industries have been left struggling to find talent, and individual workers are increasingly missing out on opportunities,” says Ethan David Lee, career expert at Resume Genius.

He adds: “However, while this is an issue for the UK as a whole, it does present individual businesses and job seekers the chance to get a leg up if they take the time to understand and react to the skills shortage in their industry.”

Most Affected Skill Areas

Representing the most prominent shortfall is the digital skills gap, including using Microsoft Office tools, and advanced digital skills specifically required for certain jobs, like digital content creation.

A majority (58%) of workers in the UK said they had personally felt the negative impact of the digital skills gap, with one in four saying they didn’t seek or achieve a promotion and one in five saying they refrained from applying for a job because of their lack of digital proficiency.

After digital skills, the next most significant gaps in workplace skills are leadership and managing others, critical thinking and decision-making, and advanced communication and negotiation.

CV Genius found that 22 million workers will lack key leadership and management skills by 2030, with half (51%) of the UK workforce having missed out on opportunities to develop essential soft skills.

STEM and healthcare include some of the most essential services for society, yet it’s predicted that  2.7 million workers will lack the necessary skills for their roles in at least one STEM and healthcare subject area by 2030.

This is further highlighted by the already notable worker shortage, with ONS data reporting human health and social work positions alone account for 18% of all UK job vacancies –  the most of any sector.

With 4.3 million workers projected to be underskilled in teaching and training by 2030, the skills gap in training and education risks undermining the UK’s future competitiveness by leaving it unable to supply adequate training to address the skills gap in areas such as digital proficiency, leadership, STEM, and healthcare.

What are Root Causes of the Skills Gap?

Advances in Technology

The skills gap in the UK, especially in the digital domain, has grown largely because of a rapid rise in technology.

While many jobs transitioned to remote platforms during the pandemic and hybrid work has become the norm, 58% of people say they’ve never received training for digital skills.

Also, there was a significant rise in economic inactivity during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, most notably caused by an increase in early retirements and long-term illnesses.

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Finally,the UK’s skills shortage has been increasingly linked to Brexit. The Centre for European Reform believes the end of free movement has left the UK short of 330,000 workers.

How employers and workers can navigate the skills gap

Based on comprehensive research findings, CV Genius highlighted several areas to help both employers and workers navigate the skills gap.

Employers can:

• Conduct a company-wide skills gap analysis.
• Offer tailored training programmes specific to the needs of their employees.
• Collaborate with established education providers to ensure quality training.

Workers can:

• Try out a university short course or complete a certification.
• Complete a qualification with the UK Government’s Skills Bootcamp.
• Update their CV to reflect their industry’s specific skills needs.
• Visit their university’s career centre or find a professional mentor.