Employers ‘want work ethic and attitude’

A GOOD work ethic is more important than skills in securing a first job, according to a report.

An overwhelming 82 per cent of employers rated attitude and work ethic as important when recruiting for “entry level” posts, compared to just 38 per cent who named literacy and numeracy.

The report from the Centre for Social Justice thinktank called for a fourth “R” – responsibility – to be added to schools’ traditional core subjects of reading, writing and arithmetic.

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Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith, founder and patron of the CSJ, last week issued a plea for firms to take on more British nationals, only for employers to retort that they lacked the work ethic of migrant workers.

The report found that poor work attitudes among the long-term jobless are the major barrier to tackling unemployment.

Asked why they turned down applicants for unskilled jobs in sectors like catering, manufacturing and retailing, some 62 per cent of employers cited “poor work attitude and ethic” and 57 per cent “poor presentation”, compared with just 29 per cent who complained of lack of academic skills.

“Entry level” jobs of this kind make up about one-third of the total UK workforce of 27 million, but many are taken by migrant workers, said the report.

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Around 80 per cent of the jobs created during Labour’s time in power went to migrant workers, and official figures suggest the figure has risen since the coalition Government took power last year.

The CSJ report said: “Many employers told us that they believe students should leave education ‘work ready’ and that currently too many students fall short.

“Timekeeping, self-awareness, confidence, presentation, communication, teamwork and an ability to understand workplace relationships are too often below the standard required, particularly in younger jobseekers.

“The education system needs to also focus on the fourth R, responsibility, enabling young people to take greater ownership over their future.”