A new study says employers should work with their staff and the government to bring skill levels up.Bosses, employees and the government must work together to develop skills and make the UK one of the top countries in the world, a new report has said.

Ambition 2020 was published by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) and revealed that more employers are now providing training for their workers, with over 60 per cent of English and Scottish people being offered opportunities at work.

However, not everyone has these chances, as only two-fifths of managers helped more than 90 per cent of their workforces over the last year.

The document also showed that bosses are spending five per cent less on teaching than they did two years ago.

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development found in 2008 that half of all work-based learning was on-the-job training and staff found it to be the most helpful method.

UKCES stated last year that the UK has a target of reaching the top eight countries for skills, jobs and productivity by 2020, but is currently only expected to rank 11th in high-level skills and 20th and 21st in low and intermediate levels respectively.

Posted by Colette Paxton