Matching the supply and demand for skills in the
engineering manufacturing sector


Client:
SEMTA and the West Midlands Regional Learning and Skills Council

Date completed:
April 2005

Project description:
The purpose of the project was to pilot a methodology for matching skill demand and supply data at a regional and local level within the West Midlands, in order to identify the implications for current training and learning provision serving the regional engineering manufacturing sector.

The project report identifies the policy implications of the analytical findings and the shortcomings of current data collection and use methods, both in relation to supply and demand data.

The project also identifies how this approach could be improved in the future.

Specific issues covered by the report included:

• The sectors size and importance
• Employment trends
• Innovation and knowledge based industries
• Recent performance
• Emerging skill needs
• Skill gaps and recruitment issues
• Investment in training and workforce development
• Diversity and mature workforce issues
• Overall employment projections
• Demand versus supply of skills
• Implications for engineering employers, training providers and other stakeholders
    within the West Midlands Region

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Further recent examples of our work in this area:


East Midlands sector research

The voluntary sector as an employer in Birmingham and Solihull

United Kingdom Passenger Transport Skills Study

Recruitment and Retention in the Advisory and Financial Sector