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School Leavers Make Better Workers Than University Graduates

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Posted: 16/01/12 06:32 GMT   PA

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One in five employers believe school-leavers make better workers than university graduates, according to new research.

A survey among 1,000 firms by recruitment giant Adecco found that over half argued that university graduates had unrealistic expectations of working life and one in three believed that the education system was failing to equip young people with the skills required by British businesses.

Adecco called on the education system, employers and the government to tackle "substantial shortcomings" in workplace skills.

Newcomers to the world of work were found to be most lacking in interpersonal and computer skills, while one in four employers reported a lack of basic literacy and numeracy skills among graduate recruits.

Chris Moore, of Adecco Group, said: "Undeniably, Britain has one of the best and most advanced education systems in the world but it must deliver a talented, reliable graduate workforce that brings demonstrable value to UK plc. On a significant scale, employers believe it is failing to do that.

"Although extremely valuable, a strong academic record is no longer a sufficient prerequisite for entry into today's working environment. Employers now hold attitude and personality in greater esteem than academic or even vocational qualifications when assessing new recruits.

"Collectively, we - the g overnment, businesses and educators - must work together and take full responsibility for developing skills in line with commercial needs.

"Financial acumen, communications techniques and a full appreciation of the attitude required to excel in the commercial world must now form a core part of curricula. We have to listen to employers who are telling us that our education system has to ensure soft skills are valued alongside an emphasis on academic excellence."

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One in five employers believe school-leavers make better workers than university graduates, according to new research. A survey among 1,000 firms by recruitment giant Adecco found that over half ar...
One in five employers believe school-leavers make better workers than university graduates, according to new research. A survey among 1,000 firms by recruitment giant Adecco found that over half ar...
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stpcock
4 Fans
03:04 PM on 01/18/2012
Anyone who went to school in or before the 1960s will remember that good teachers would tell us about events that were happening around the country and around the world - and then they would encourage discussion and interest in us by indivually ASKING US WHAT WE THOUGHT about it. All this kind of fare opened up the brain and the mind for pupils to THINK FOR THEMSELVES.

Thinking for yourself - is certainly NOT what is required today. What happens now is a politically sanitised and carefully 'spun' version of world events are laid before children - with heavy socialist undertones of how the children are expected to view them. Great theatre is now placed on presentation as opposed to facts. Then the class are TOLD WHAT TO THINK about those events. This is a markedly different and manipulative approach to so called 'education'.

In addition teachers today are brow beaten into presenting information in a very specific way. They are generally terrified of their extremist left wing masters - who can take away their jobs and end their careers with one easy smear campaign. All they have to do is insinuate that they are not 'on-side' to the great and bright new coming age - usually by incorrectly and labeling them a 'fascist'. Thus dissent is stamped out - and the children are left in the grip of the evil black cloud that is now enveloping all western society.
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majdf18148
I have nothing to declare but my curiosity
248 Fans
04:57 PM on 01/16/2012
If that is the case why do so many posts require formal educational achievements? I agree attitude and personality are important assets for job applicants but so is the ability to learn, the ability to cope with the vagaries of the post applied for, the ability to absorb information. You don't need a degree to be a plumber but personality and attitude won't tell you how to work out the BTUs needed to heat a particular room, ( I'm not a plumber I might have got that wrong!). In my time I have employed many people. Some of them had great personalities, had great attitudes and were really nice people but simply couldn't hack the job educationally. We found ourselves placing higher standards of educational achievement criteria on applicants then selecting those from interview who were blessed with a good brain, the right attitudeAND a nice personality. A university degree is not essential to get a good job but attitude and personality alone won't get youngsters past the pre-selection stage of the sifting process in a huge number of jobs. Perhaps this doesn't apply to jobs where no minimum standards of education is required but graduates are less likely to be competing with non graduates for those jobs.It isn't a simple case of either or!
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stpcock
4 Fans
05:23 PM on 01/16/2012
You must have noticed the change since the Blair years majdf18148? What you are saying is how it USED to work pre-Blair.

It is fair to say that the British Empire used Public Schools in order to 'brand' a British norm for the Armed Forces - and thus successfully exported that British way of doing things around the Empire. It still allowed for individualism, however.

Today the important government infrastructure (and areas of business that are heavily regulated, like employment itself) are peopled soley by the product of universities and further education colleges. It is to 'brand' and replicate the system. The emphasis for their learning all the same - is now heavily weighted AGAINST material likely to open up their minds and promote individualistic thinkers - and FOR indoctrination of government policies on the EU, immigration, race, etc. - and the relentless PC agenda.

Even student protests today seem to be gatherings organised to SUPPORT government policy in the PC agenda! Who ever heard of students protesting for 'More of the same please?'
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stpcock
4 Fans
04:47 PM on 01/16/2012
Are some people commenting on this article confusing people who have attended university for a few years with people who are actually educated? Attending hundreds of student parties does not provide any wisdom of itself. By far the most intelligen­t and truly learned people are those who have educated themselves - without any harmful subversive pressures or backdrop to their studies - and by making their own enquiries in places that academia fears to tread. The self taught are the people that the state actually fears - because they have acquired knowledge without the establishment 'spin'.

The university graduates of today are the ones who are required merely to enforce further state dogma in any that protest. Traditiona­lly in Britain education meant opening up your mind so as to be able to make individual assessment­s on vital issues - and to apply free and unfettered independen­t thought on a subject. Today that is the very LAST thing that is required of new world order subjects. This is the very reason that real education and free enquiry is being quickly replaced with state indoctrina­tion and Marxist inspired views of the world - which by the way are compulsory - not optional! Resistance is futile - and dissident thought to this line has even now been criminalis­ed. This without even a squeak of protest from the young 'intellect­ual elite'.
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majdf18148
I have nothing to declare but my curiosity
248 Fans
05:30 PM on 01/16/2012
Are you related to Nora Batty? What on earth have you been reading? I am now totally dejected that I was not subjected to any of this treatment when I went to Uni. But hang on, you're right, this is all part of the divide and rule the state operates. I've been subliminally indoctrinated and didn't even know it, my mind has been stolen by card carrying Marxist activists I once stood behind in the corridors of our halls. I need help! stpcock I bet you are a really nice person but your thought process is way beyond mine. I am but a simple soul. I wish you a very good evening and a pleasant night's sleep!
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stpcock
4 Fans
05:44 PM on 01/16/2012
No need to revert to insults my friend. One thing I do know about Marxists is that when they lose an argument they begin to deride, smear and shout down their opponents. Education is becoming harmful - and it is the duty of the increasing number of people who have realised this - to point it out.
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Joe Joe P
38 Fans
04:34 PM on 01/16/2012
Oh! It makes sense now! Thats why we have crap politicians! LOL!
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MrNormalcy
31 Fans
04:08 PM on 01/16/2012
file under excuses why they aren't willing to hire.
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Kris5
34 Fans
03:26 PM on 01/16/2012
There are too many graduates chasing too few jobs. However, the idea that school leavers make better employees than graduates may arise because School Leavers are younger and more vulnerable to doing whatever they are told to do by the boss, even if the boss is telling them to behave in a totally unprofessional manner towards customers/clients. Graduates tend to be more questioning and have developed a mind of their own. All the computers/mobile phones/texting may have led to poorer verbal and written language skills. Whilst practical work skills are very important - schooling should not just be about turning out ready made work robots for employers. Schooling has a duty to turn out human beings, not just work robots. It will do society as a whole no good if schools just e.g. turn out well trained computer wiz kids/mechanics, if these young people have no sense of morality or no understanding of all the other life skills that are needed. Life demands an awful lot more than just work skills. If employers want work skills, then perhaps they should bring back more apprentice training. If schools concentrate on providing a ready trained work force there is not going to be enough time on the timetable to provide all the other skills that are needed in life.
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Raldor
33 Fans
03:41 PM on 01/16/2012
So we should make all school leavers do another three years at University so that everyone can think for themselves before they get jobs?

I think you do school leavers a very big diservice with your generalisation about their capabilities.
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Kris5
34 Fans
03:50 PM on 01/16/2012
I agree with you, I have generalised. In fairness, thankfully some school leavers would have the confidence to refuse if their boss expected them to to e.g. rip customers off, or turn a blind eye to elderly people being treated badly in a home. However, I suspect that a lot of young school leavers may not have the confidence/be too frightened to stand up against the boss and might just do what they were told to do for fear of getting the sack. In contrast, graduates are older and wiser and know that no business worth their salt would expect employees to behave unprofessionally.
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elgeezr
450 Fans
04:39 PM on 01/16/2012
Well, Kris5, I must say that's a really great rationalization. Wonder if any employers would be interested in your explanation? mmmmmm...........
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TOCB
Both major parties are married to money
1750 Fans
03:15 PM on 01/16/2012
Very interesting. Kind of off topic...In a recent speech Vice President Biden lamented that many multi national business executives are saying they would like to actually bring some manufacturing jobs back to the USA due to rising labor cost and logistic cost for products produced overseas and sold in the USA. One obstacle to that is American workes now lack the skill sets for manufacturing jobs that were outsourced in the 1980's. It seems American workes quit acquiring those skill sets as they were no longer needed in the USA. Now the complaint or excuse for not bring those jobs back is the lack of skill sets. I suspect American workers could easily acquire those skill sets again if the jobs were here. Why prepare for a job in the USA if the job is in China?
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Ladymacri
13 Fans
03:25 PM on 01/16/2012
It's the same problem here really, so until the infrastructure and education system are revamped to recreate those skills then the UK is not going to be able to compete with India and China where workers are cheap and profits are great.
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TOCB
Both major parties are married to money
1750 Fans
03:33 PM on 01/16/2012
Exactly. Every society will always have more workers or doers than thinkers. There is nothing wrong or non-appealing with either. Some people are more capable and willing to be doers and others to be thinkers. Often, so-called leaders attempt to fit square pegs in round holes and create unnecessary stress. I think it is elitist for a society to think most of their population will be thinkers and therefore, ship the majority of their manufacturiing jobs to countries where they can exploit basically slave labor.
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stpcock
4 Fans
02:57 PM on 01/16/2012
There seems to be a bit of a misunderstanding here. School leavers have always been better workers. I can personally attest to that as a former employer - who at one time employed 300 souls. In years gone by small numbers of graduates were still able to filter into some better paid jobs because their time at university endowed them with a specialist skill or knowledge.

Today is different for a number of reasons. Firstly there are far more of them - and we now see the students who merely wish to remain in the academic world for as long as possible because they are having a great time - and want to put off the spectre of work for as long as possible. Secondly - there is the massive rise in meaningless degrees - that frankly offer no asset value to an employer. Thirdly - and most important - students today are becomming very thin on actual KNOWLEDGE or skill from their time in further education and university. Their EDUCATION is being replaced with vast amounts of INDOCTRINATION in extremist left wing ideology and political correctness.

This is why the modern graduate presents with an attitude problem with authority - fully aware of their 'rights' - and unable to perform basic tasks - or even put a letter together.
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elgeezr
450 Fans
04:42 PM on 01/16/2012
Great! F&F
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Kraptonfactor
They're coming to take me away ha ha, hee hee, ho
200 Fans
02:26 PM on 01/16/2012
'One of the best and most advanced education systems in the world'. Did anyone else fall off their chair laughing at that?
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prestonmacdougall
the Chemical Eye Guy
92 Fans
02:11 PM on 01/16/2012
This is not surprising, and I expect similar sentiments would be found on my side of the pond. The reason is that college education is becoming more and more results-driven. So students are rewarded for jumping through hoops. Bore-ring! Companies don't want employees who constantly need to be told what to do. They want employees who can figure-out what needs to be done and then do it. Two words, Bill Gates.
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RLF22
5 Fans
01:47 PM on 01/16/2012
This report will not suprise most people.Most go to uni not because they are supper clever but because [a] they do not have to get a job for a few more years [b] they believe or think they are well above there station.Youngsters who are willing to work in a factory or are willing to get there hands dirty can quite often get a job.Look at the corses some take at the end the paper work isnt worth a thing [Jack ****] Take the girl suing the government for forced labour to work in pound Land,says it all really,come into the real work ducky and get your head from out of the clouds.
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TheFrek
0 Fans
02:04 PM on 01/16/2012
"Mos­t go to uni not because they are supper clever but because [a] they do not have to get a job for a few more years"

Despite the fact most students have a part time job at school, and then continue that during university studies. And I say that as a uni student who often gets stick because I've never had a paid job, but I volunteer in animal centers, cleaning up after animals, which is where I hope to build my career.

"Yo­ungsters who are willing to work in a factory or are willing to get there hands dirty can quite often get a job."

Yet significant amount of British factory workers are being laid off as companies move abroad. And there are plenty of necessary jobs that are not manual, lets see what happens if everyone decides to become manual, floor workers.
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thejarter
16 Fans
01:22 PM on 01/16/2012
You have all missed the point of the article. Better workers does not mean what you think it does. Most employers define a good worker as a 'doer' and not a leader. University does not aim to produce doers but thinkers and in that sense they are academics. Who were the employers that participated in the survey anyway? I doubt if MI5 or the Immigration services would state that 16 year old school leavers make better National Security analysts than graduates. Britain is no longer a producer anyway, it's a service based economy, so what is the point of having school leavers? Oh yes, for delivery, plumping, painting, builders, car salesmen and so on. If you want to encourage your children to have that life then so be it, but to say they are better workers... What work? Work is not career, it is simply a job, and usually manual at that too.
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Ladymacri
13 Fans
03:36 PM on 01/16/2012
So if all the workers have a degree (does it matter what the major was?) and that makes them too good to do things like sales/delivery/plumbing (which I think you meant by 'plumping')/builders etc, who is going to build the homes/roads//factories/shops//hospitals/schools and indeed colleges? In my recent years of working nearly all the call centre operators have a degree but there they are with the likes of me selling the same goods, answering the same queries, working the same hours etc - so 3 years of 'study' in political sciences or whatever really made a difference didn't it? Well it did in that most have £12-15000 of student debt and I have a mortgage..........
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Ladymacri
13 Fans
12:51 PM on 01/16/2012
In my experience this is true. University graduates have been over encouraged to esteem themselves highly and to believe because they have a degree - no matter what grade or relevance - in some way makes them so superior and that the organisation is lucky to have them. Whereas someone from school or recently unemployment is more willing to take on the responsibilities and commitments being a wage slave requires.
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TheFrek
0 Fans
02:08 PM on 01/16/2012
Well they have paid and worked for a degree which theoretically should put them a cut above those without.
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katertaif
My wife thinks I have one fault. Everything I do!
529 Fans
12:46 PM on 01/16/2012
Another poster has already pointed out extremely well that Blair's stated aim of 50% of School leavers going to University was and is a ludicrous aim in any society. there is no society that can absorb so many graduates.All it has done is cause the Universities to expand like gas to fill the space, and put on many non- courses. leading to meaningless degrees. There are only so many jobs going in ' telly ' and How many graduates in the Beatles (The group not the little things with lots of legs) can be supported in our society is at least questionable. It was suggested probably quite correctly by the poster that it was just another way of keeping them off the unemployment register. They complain about having to pay back the student loans, but how many will actually get jobs with sufficient pay attached to pay it back before it falls away is another side of the coin. Many have had their hopes raised by a cynical ex PM who had himself taken full advantage of the system. I would think that school leavers who have more realistic aims, probably do have a better work ethic, as well as a better chance of a job at the end of it.
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Ladymacri
13 Fans
03:39 PM on 01/16/2012
I think his target was closer to 80% - what has actually happened is that anyone can study at uni for almost any subject relevant to the world or not and the value of a degree is virtually that of an old CSE - pretty worthless. What it does provide is 'evidence' to a future employer that the individual is capable of assimilating knowledge if that is what they require of a worker. To be a call centre operator at the Dept of Health oyu are required to have a degree - not specified as to what in. And so it is with a large number of jobs that experienced workers, or school leavers with some training, could quite easily and efficiently do.
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katertaif
My wife thinks I have one fault. Everything I do!
529 Fans
04:02 PM on 01/16/2012
As you say, you need a degree to be a call centre operator at the D of H. Not specified what in, is the key. This then again as you say cheapens the degree to the point of being virtually worthless. Being able to assimilate learning is something that should have been established at the secondary school age not at University. Then again, we have the disgraceful fact that some universities are having to put on numeracy and literacy courses, before the student takes a degree in outer mongolian basket weaving. On my return to this country from S. Africa, I got a job subject to a medical. The nurse gave me a book (Wind in the Willows actually) and asked me to read aloud. After a few sentences she said that was OK. I remarked it was a strange eye test. She told me it wasn't an eye test, it was a literacy test. I said of course I can read! She then replied that I would be surprised at how many could not. Modern day Britain. Half with degrees in ' telly ' and half barely able to watch it. Is that what we really want for our children?
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elgeezr
450 Fans
04:50 PM on 01/16/2012
There was a Taxi company owner in Miami Florida who figured with all the college (uni) graduates out there he would be able to hire grads to drive his cabs without a problem. He was right.
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katertaif
My wife thinks I have one fault. Everything I do!
529 Fans
09:28 AM on 01/17/2012
Yep. That is the inevitable consequence of this madness!!
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