DESPITE a surge in job openings, the number of positions left vacant because employers cannot find people with the skills or knowledge to fill them has risen by 130 per cent since 2011.

The figures show so-called “skills shortage vacancies” now make up nearly a quarter of all job openings, leaping from 91,000 in 2011 to 209,000 in 2015.

Although most sectors are suffering from skills shortages, the situation is particularly acute for some. Over a third of vacancies in electricity, gas and water and construction are now due to skills shortages, with transport and manufacturing not far behind. Only in public administration are skills shortages below 10 per cent.

Researchers interviewed over 90,000 establishments across the UK to produce the Employer Skills Survey from the UK Commission for Employment and Skills.

Widely regarded as being one of the largest and most comprehensive surveys of its kind in the world, the survey gathers data from employers on a wide range of issues - from skills gaps and shortages to investment in training and under-employment.

The report finds that the financial services sector has seen the sharpest rise in skills shortages, rising from 10 per cent in 2013 to 21 per cent in 2015.

Time management remains a significant issue, with nearly 60 per cent of establishments who reported a skills gap saying that their staff lacked the ability to manage their own time and prioritise tasks.

Across the UK, two million workers are under-utilised – that is, they have skills and experience which are not being used in their current job

Deputy director at the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, Lesley Giles, said: “With global competition intensifying, the UK urgently needs to boost its productivity. To do that, we need people with the right skills. But that’s only half the story.

“Creating good jobs that produce high-quality, bespoke goods and services is just as important. The Employer Skills Survey provides a wealth of data to enable businesses, training providers and policy makers to make informed decisions about what needs to be done to boost jobs, productivity and prosperity throughout the UK.”