Graduate skills are getting worse according to London businesses

London businesses have urged London Mayor Boris Johnson to improve the literacy and numeracy levels in graduates.

The skill level of graduates in literacy and numeracy are a worry for graduate recruiters in London as they find it hard to fill their graduate job vacancies with the right person. Research by londonlovesbusiness.com which polled more than 760 London business leaders and 900 public members of London found that they have called for the Mayor to make these skills top priorities.

The survey also found that 60% of London’s business leaders would vote for a mayoral candidate who would take a strong stance on public sector strikes in London. 53% were also found to have little sympathy for those who would strike over spending cuts. Up to 66% believed that strikes should be banned unless there has been 50% turnout on the strike ballot.

Graduates are been urged to concentrate on literacy and numeracy skills with 58% of business leaders feeling graduates skills in this area are very poor. This means that around 37% of graduate recruiters feel it would be easier to recruit skilled graduates from abroad.

More worrying for graduates is that fact that 89% of business leaders in London feel the capital is too expensive to live in if you are earning an average salary.

Steve Turner, communications director, Home Builders Federation: "A young person in London would have to not eat, pay rent or go out and save every penny of their wages for three years to get the deposit required for a starter home. The mayor needs to find a way of ensuring more homes of all types and sizes are delivered in the capital."

Source: Pareto.co.uk, Thursday 8th September 2011