News: Performance Management
'Skills shortages worrying managers'
20 March 2008
The UK manufacturing sector faces three challenges, one of which is a skills shortage, a new report has indicated.
Tight profit margins and the threat of low cost offshore manufacturing are also damaging the confidence of industry bosses.
According to Russam GMS, 86 per cent of interim managers claim there is skills shortage, especially in general management.
In addition, a fifth of respondents who took part in the study said there was a lack of good project management skills in British manufacturing.
John Wilson, head of manufacturing at Russam GMS, said: "The significant skills shortage ... appears to be particularly pronounced at managerial level.
"While this is good news for interim managers in terms of generating good employment prospects, it is an issue that needs addressing now if UK manufacturing companies want to retain their competitive edge."
In related news, market sources have told Thomson Financial newswire that growth in the eurozone's manufacturing sector dipped in March.
