ACE dismay at limited measures to close skills gap

Citation

(2009), "ACE dismay at limited measures to close skills gap", Structural Survey, Vol. 27 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/ss.2009.11027aab.008

ACE dismay at limited measures to close skills gap

Article Type: Newsbriefs From: Structural Survey, Volume 27, Issue 1

Keywords: Energy, Migration, Skills gap

The Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE), has given gave a cautious welcome to limited additions made to the revised list of occupations in which the skills gaps in the UK can be filled by migration. The organisation said the government needed to do much more to secure the engineering skills the nation needs, especially in the energy sector.

ACE chief executive Nelson Ogunshakin said:

We are pleased with the progressive action taken by the Migration Advisory Committee to include civil and structural engineering on the UK shortage occupation list. Whilst this should go some way to filling the skills gap in these disciplines, we are extremely disappointed and dismayed that the government has decided against including mechanical and electrical engineering professions on the list - skills that were on the June 2008 list but which have now been removed. The government’s future work programme for energy and infrastructure will require many more mechanical and electrical engineers than we currently have. The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) analyses historical data to determine current demand but this is like driving by looking in the rearview mirror instead of at the road ahead.