Description:

This indicator measures the proportion of establishments in Scotland with skills under-utilisation using the Employer Skills Survey (ESS). The indicator provides a measure of skills under-utilisation within Scotland. This helps to inform policy, planning and service delivery and deliver on our strategic priorities of improving productivity and Inclusive Growth.

The headline figure presented is the incidence of skills under-utilisation. In ESS 2017, under-use of skills was measured by asking employers how many staff, if any, had both qualifications and skills more advanced than required for their current job role. It should be noted that the survey can only capture what employers are aware of and report.

Source of Data:

The UK Employer Skills Survey (ESS) is one of the largest business surveys in the world, with the data in the 2017 report based on survey responses from over 87,000 employers (across the UK). The ESS 2017 involved telephone interviews with a random sample of 6,017 business establishments across Scotland.  The sample was representative of businesses across Scotland in terms of size, sector and geographic region. This research provides a comprehensive source of intelligence on the skills challenges that UK employers face both within their existing workforces and when recruiting, the levels and nature of investment in training and development, and the relationship between skills challenges, training activity and business strategy.

The 2017 survey is the fourth in a series conducted biennially since 2011. The ESS series therefore provides rich labour market intelligence from the period when the UK economy was emerging from the recession of the late 2000s, to more recent years when the UK has experienced relatively sustained economic growth and high levels of job creation. 

The latest survey was carried out between May and October 2017. Employers with at least two people on the payroll were in scope, and interviews were conducted at an establishment level with the most senior person at the site with responsibility for human resources and workplace skills.

Definitions:

The headline figure presented is the incidence of Skills Under-Utilisation.  This is the proportion of establishments with at least one employee with skills and qualifications more advanced than required for their current job role.

The disaggregated data set also includes data on the density of Skills Under-Utilisation.  This is the proportion of all staff with skills and qualifications more advanced than required for their current job role.

Criteria for Change:

This evaluation is based on:

• any difference within +/- 1 percentage point (pp) of last year's figure suggests that the position is more likely to be maintaining than showing any change.
• an increase of 1 pp or more suggests the position is worsening.
• a decrease of 1 pp or more suggests the position is improving.