1. UK Commission for Employment & Skills Who is the UK Commission for Employment & Skills? A non-departmental government body led by Chair Sir Charlie Mayfield and CEO Michael Davis Primary sponsor of UKCES is Dept. for Business Innovation & Skills A social partnership led by 24 Commissioners from across UK What is role of commission? Giving businesses and people advice on the labour market so they can make informed decisions Carrying out employment and skills policies to develop a workforce that can compete internationally Helping more employers invest in their employees’ skills What the NI Commissioner for Employment & Skills role? Link N.Ireland to the commission, gather local data in support of UKCES & DEL

5. 75% CRITICAL / SIGNIFICANT 63% 56% 55% Note that ‘Small amount of value’, ‘No value’ and ‘Don’t know’ responses are not shown Base: All Northern Ireland establishments (2,005) What employers in Northern Ireland look for when recruiting 5

6. What employers look for when recruiting: Relevant work experience 6 OF ALL ESTABLISHMENTS DEEMED RELEVANT WORK EXPERIENCE CRITICAL/SIGNIFICANT B ase: All Northern Ireland establishments (2,005) % Critical or significant 75% Base: All Northern Ireland establishments: Primary (96), Manufacturing (139), Construction (148), Trade, Accom. & Transport (675), Business (468), Non-market services (479) Base: All Northern Ireland establishments: NI Belfast (479), NI Northern (442), NI North West (197), NI Southern (289), NI South East (336), NI South West (262) Region Sector

7. Base: All Northern Ireland establishments: Primary (96), Manufacturing (139), Construction (148), Trade, Accom. & Transport (675), Business (468), Non-market services (479) Base: All Northern Ireland establishments: NI Belfast (479), NI Northern (442), NI North West (197), NI Southern (289), NI South East (336), NI South West (262) B ase: All Northern Ireland establishments (2,005) What employers look for when recruiting: Maths & English GCSE 7 OF ALL ESTABLISHMENTS DEEMED MATHS & ENGLISH GCSE CRITICAL/SIGNIFICANT % Critical or significant 63% Region Sector

8. 56% Base: All Northern Ireland establishments: Primary (96), Manufacturing (139), Construction (148), Trade, Accom. & Transport (675), Business (468), Non-market services (479) Base: All Northern Ireland establishments: NI Belfast (479), NI Northern (442), NI North West (197), NI Southern (289), NI South East (336), NI South West (262) B ase: All Northern Ireland establishments (2,005) What employers look for when recruiting: Vocational qualifications 8 OF ALL ESTABLISHMENTS DEEMED VOCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS CRITICAL/SIGNIFICANT % Critical or significant Region Sector

9. Base: All Northern Ireland establishments: Primary (96), Manufacturing (139), Construction (148), Trade, Accom. & Transport (675), Business (468), Non-market services (479) B ase: All Northern Ireland establishments (2,005) What employers look for when recruiting: Academic qualifications 9 OF ALL ESTABLISHMENTS DEEMED ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS CRITICAL/SIGNIFICANT % Critical or significant 55% Region Sector Base: All Northern Ireland establishments: NI Belfast (479), NI Northern (442), NI North West (197), NI Southern (289), NI South East (336), NI South West (262)

10. Base: All Northern Ireland establishments: Primary (96), Manufacturing (139), Construction (148), Trade, Accom. & Transport (675), Business (468), Non-market services (479) Sector Region Work placement offering in Northern Ireland 10 OF ALL ESTABLISHMENTS HAD ANY WORK PLACEMENTS 48% B ase: All Northern Ireland establishments (2,005) Base: All Northern Ireland establishments: NI Belfast (479), NI Northern (442), NI North West (197), NI Southern (289), NI South East (336), NI South West (262)

11. Developing the Skills Agenda The need for all stakeholders to play an active part in developing skills (creating a true social partnership structure) Ensuring there is flexibility in the academic and non-work based learning activities Addressing the core skills issues Essential skills in Maths & English Providing the work readiness skills – critical thinking / problem solving / teamwork / interpersonal skills Making work placements available to provide that understanding of behaviours in a work environment The proliferation of all these activities needs to be looked at – the learner needs a single entry point

12. For more information contact UKCES Employer Surveys employersurveys@ukces.org.uk @ukces Data tables for Northern Ireland available at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/employer-perspectives- survey-2014-northern-ireland-data