Regional Priority 1 - Closing the gap on the national benchmark for Level 2 at 19 in the West Midlands

Learning and Skills Council Staffordshire Annual Plan 2007-08 March 2007 Of interest to National, Regional and Local Learning and Skills Colleagues LSC Staffordshire Annual Plan 2007-08 - 1 - Foreword Staffordshire follows the pattern of many areas nationally, seeing the decline of employment in manufacturing. In order to compete globally, the UK economy has to be one that competes on its wits. Staffordshire is no different. Economic forecast shows a projected additional 29,000 jobs to be created, many of which will require higher level skills. This forecast compares well with other parts of the region and we must be ready to attract and retain those employers with a local workforce that meets and exceeds the challenge. Even in the current economy, skills gaps are a significant problem in Staffordshire, as are recruitment problems and skills shortages. The rate of employment in Stoke-on-Trent is significantly lower than in Staffordshire. Getting the supply and demand of skills in balance for the current economy would be a job in itself. A great deal of progress has already been made, with providers and partners achieving greater levels of participation and increasing the number of people who have achieved level 2 by 19. But as we improve, so does the rest of the country - and at a higher rate. So, this year we will make a real push at closing the gap between region and nation, across all skills levels. But that still wouldn’t ...