April 2015
Featured in this insight: Business & enterprise, Education, Conducting market research in Wales
Employers value experience over qualifications, survey finds: A recent survey of 2,000 employers in Wales – as part of a wider survey of the UK - has found that relevant work experience is regarded higher than qualifications.
Approximately 2 in 3 (63 per cent) said that they valued experience as significant or critical, although, just 39 per cent facilitated work experience within their company.
The findings have initiated calls for businesses to offer more work experience opportunities, with Scott Waddington, Wales’ commissioner for employment and skills, saying that this would assist companies in identifying good quality recruits.
Waddington said of the findings: "Clearly, employers feel more comfortable hiring those who have some experience of their industry or job type so extending more opportunities to young people in education will help match the right people to the right jobs."
The survey also found that 52 per cent of employers regarded GCSEs in English and Maths as either critical or significant.
Fewer than half of the sample (47 per cent) said that they looked for vocational qualifications when recruiting. On the other hand, 42 per cent said that they looked for academic qualifications.
67 per cent of the respondents said that they provide staff with training.
Just 13 per cent of the employers surveyed said that they offer apprenticeships. A further 29 per cent said that they plan to offer apprenticeships in the future.
The survey – which is conducted on alternate years – seeks to find the views of employers on a range of workplace issues. For example, work experience, patterns of recruitment and investment.
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