Report: The Business Barometer 2025

Business Barometer 2025

The 2025 Business Barometer highlights that skills shortages are an ongoing issue for the majority of organisations in the UK. These shortages are impacting organisations’ ability to plan ahead and deliver their business objectives.

It also reveals a growing disconnect between UK employers and the next generation of workers — one that could be preventing employers from addressing the UK’s persistent skills shortages.

Download this year’s report below to get exclusive full access to insights from research with 2,000 senior recruitment decision-makers and 1,000 Gen Z adults.

Plus, learn five actionable recommendations on what you can do to address current and future skills gaps within your organisation.

Some of the key employer findings for the UK include:

  • 54% of organisations have a skills shortage.
  • 32% believe the shortage will worsen over the next five years.
  • 40% of those experiencing skills shortages say the impact will be increased workload on other staff.

The report also highlights a disconnect between many employers and young people when it comes to skills:

  • 71% of Gen Z believe that employers should be responsible for providing workplace training and upskilling… while just 45% of employers believe it’s their duty to fund employee development.
  • 26% of employers fear that employees will leave after training… yet 69% of Gen Z say they are more likely to stay with an employer that offers training and career development.

Download Business Barometer 2025

While there are economic challenges at this moment for employers, the smartest organisations won’t just wait for skills to arrive — they’ll build them, inclusively and proactively, to fuel growth and resilience.

Baroness Martha Lane Fox CBE
Chancellor, The Open University

Here’s some ways this report will help you:

  • Get equipped with the latest information on the UK skills landscape to help you build a business case to futureproof your workforce.
  • Compare where your organisation measures up against others in the UK and in your own nation and sector.
  • Get inspiration on where you need to focus your strategic planning in the future.
  • Learn five key ways to plug your skills gaps that you can action.

Download Business Barometer 2025

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