EMPLOYERS’ organisation the CBI today called for all young people who achieve good grades in science at age 14 to be automatically enrolled onto triple science GCSE.
It says the economy is gearing up for growth, and businesses will require staff with science degrees, but more than 40% of companies say they face difficulty in recruiting people with science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) skills.
These are a particular requirement in high-value sectors like low-carbon, pharmaceuticals and digital media. CBI chief policy director Katja Hall said: “As the economy rebalances, we will need more highly-skilled employees, particularly for young people with STEM degrees, but businesses are struggling to recruit good graduates.
“At the same time that the English Baccalaureate has effectively made GCSE history and geography compulsory, the Government has neglected the sciences.
“It must pay more attention to getting students to study physics, chemistry and biology as separate GCSEs.” The CBI says employers are willing to pay a premium for staff with STEM skills. A survey showed that 40% of companies in science and IT and 33% in construction reported that STEM graduates earn more than other graduates.
