New figures from the latest CBI/Pearson Education and Skills survey show that more than two-thirds of businesses surveyed across the UK expect to need more employees with higher skills over the next few years, particularly in key sectors such as science and engineering, construction and manufacturing.

The need for higher-level skills is greatest in Scotland, Wales and the North East.

In addition, more than half of businesses UK-wide fear that they will not be able to recruit enough highly skilled workers to meet demand and expand — with the biggest skills gaps in Wales, Northern Ireland, the West Midlands and the North East.

Meanwhile, difficulties in recruiting people with science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) skills at all levels are growing.

The proportion of companies having difficulty recruiting STEM graduates has more than doubled over the past two years, to 26%. The shortage of STEM graduates is most acute in the Midlands, the South West and Yorkshire.