Despite the fact that the sector has experienced a significant growth in employment and growth in the highly qualified component of its workforce, employer organisations are still reporting specific skills shortages and internal skills gaps.

• England - 7% of establishments reported skills shortage vacancies, compared to 6% for the whole economy; 26% reported internal skills gaps, compared to 20% for the whole economy
• Wales - 18% of vacancies are skills shortage vacancies, compared to 26% across the whole Welsh economy; 31% of firms reported internal skills gaps, compared to 19% of firms across the economy
• Scotland - 12% of vacancies are skills shortage vacancies, compared to 25% across the whole Scottish  economy; 21% of firms reported gaps, which is similar to those across the whole economy
• Northern Ireland - 4% of vacancies are skills shortage vacancies, compared to 19% across the whole Northern Ireland economy; firms reporting internal skills gaps are similar to those across the whole economy

The major areas of skills gaps in England were reported to be: communication skills; customer handling; and problem solving skills. In Wales, IT skills gaps were by far the most prevalent, whereas in Scotland 45% of firms reported skills lacking in team working and problem solving.

Skills needs by occupations are more likely to be central to the specific performance of the job and are the result of a lack of experience.  For example:

• the skills most lacking among managers and senior officials are management skills
• communication skills are in high demand among the associate professional and technical and the personal service groups of occupations

Source: Skills for Health 2006

For more information on workforce development and drivers plus future skills needs in the health sector see:

Future skills and workforce development

Future drivers in workforce development