One in five employers 'prefer school leavers to graduates'

A fifth of the nation's employers believe that school leavers make better employers than people who have a degree, according to a new report by Adecco.

Although the survey found that the majority of companies would prefer to take on a graduate compared to somebody who only had school-based qualifications, some felt that graduates had unrealistic expectations of their first job.

The poll found that half of graduates admitted that their degree failed to provide the right skills to enter the world of work, with employers citing a lack of interpersonal and IT skills as a reason for this.

Chris Moore, a spokesman for Adecco, said Britain "undeniably" has one of the best and most advanced education systems in the world, but it needs to deliver a "talented and reliable graduate workforce".

"Although extremely valuable, a strong academic record is no longer a sufficient prerequisite for entry into today's working environment. Employers now hold attitude and personality in greater esteem than academic or even vocational qualifications when assessing new recruits," he added.

The poll did find that younger workers were highly regarded when it came to their entrepreneurial spirit, however, as well as being "drivers for change" with a view to changing the country for the better.

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Posted by Nikki Barrister

Filed: 16-01-2012