More than 60 percent of companies say they have difficulty recruiting entry level staff with the right skills.

Research just released outlines that UK businesses are struggling to find the right graduate talent to fill their IT and computing roles. Research commissioned by totaljobs.com also revealed that over a third (34 percent) of employers claimed the skills gap was most acute in technical ability, with positions in production and finance also amongst the hardest to fill. Graduate Director at totaljobs.com, Mike Fetters, said: “There has been a great deal of growth in graduate IT and computing jobs, something that is definitely set to continue. However, it is a concern that business says that there are not enough graduates with the appropriate skills and experience to fill these roles. What’s interesting is the increase in apprenticeship hires. There is definitely still a need for degree-level hires, but companies are increasingly understanding the value of taking on an apprentice as an effective way to address their skills shortages and foster a new generation of IT and business experts.”

The findings follow the news from earlier this year that 48 percent of employers reported a shift away from graduate recruitment towards apprenticeships, according to previous research from totaljobs.com. The strategy is a result of employers responding to the challenge they face in finding the right skills necessary for entry level positions. This research also found that three in five (57 percent) firms are struggling to fill vacancies while over a quarter (27 percent) said apprenticeships are crucial to addressing the deficit in skills. Furthermore, a quarter want to see business skills embedded within school education; and 18 percent called for degrees more appropriate for the world of work. The subject of skills shortages is topping the agenda at the Association of Graduate Recruitment Conference 2013 for employers and careers service professionals.