Shropshire expert calls for more skilled jobs for graduates
Shropshire's businesses need to plan ahead and create more skilled jobs to prevent new graduate skills from being wasted, it was claimed today.
Training specialist Anita Bickerdike says too many talented graduates either leave the region or end up in jobs they are over qualified for.
Mrs Bickerdike, owner of Shrewsbury-based training and management development company Positive Intention, spoke after a new report found the majority of university graduates have to make do with stop-gap work when they finish their courses.
Most then end up working long-term in jobs that do not require a degree amid concerns that graduate numbers have now overtaken the creation of high-skilled jobs available.
Mrs Bickerdike said local businesses should use the latest findings by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development to their advantage.
She said: "In just a few weeks the very first intake of students will start courses at the new University Centre in Shrewsbury. This will be a landmark day and an opportunity for businesses ito work with the university to provide jobs in the coming years for our own graduates.
"What we don't want is skilled youngsters leaving the county and their talents being wasted because businesses are unable to provide higher skilled job opportunities.
"It's down to employers to start planning now and creating exciting opportunities so that we can retain talented and skilled individuals here in Shropshire."
The report commissioned by the CIPD found 58.8 per cent of graduates in the UK are in jobs deemed to be non-graduate roles.
It said the increasing number of graduates have "outstripped" the creation of high-skilled jobs, and as a result, the UK has too many over-qualified graduates entering non-graduate jobs. It found this trend had particularly affected occupations such as construction and manufacturing.
Mrs Bickerdike added: "While creating new opportunities should be a key focus for many businesses it is important that employers do not forget about existing employees."
