§ 33. Mr. Norman Atkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in order of importance the reasons that he estimates to be the cause of the skill shortages in manufacturing.
§ Mr. GoldingThe many inter-related factors contributing to skill shortages do not easily lend themselves to listing in order of priority. A survey of skilled engineering workers by the National Economic Development Office and the Manpower Services Commission found that the main reason for giving up skilled work was redundancy followed by poor prospects for advancement, low pay and bad working conditions. Other factors contributing to skill shortages include insufficient training by industry in the past, differences between the locations and trades where the needs for skilled people are declining and those where they are expanding, reluctance of skilled workers to move to other districts, insufficient acceptance of adult trainees and often the employment of skilled workers on tasks not requiring their skills.