Minimum and preferred entry qualifications and training provision for British workers

Abstract

This article reports the outcomes of a survey of British employers that requested information on the qualifications sought when recruiting employees, and on training and development offered subsequently to employees. Responses revealed that few employers actively sought vocational awards in potential employees. The only occupational category for which more employers specified a vocational award than an academic award was service workers. A substantial number of organisations specified no minimum entry level of qualification, even for higher–status occupations. Those organisations that did specify a minimum qualification level for recruits were significantly more likely to report that they trained their employees.