1 in 5 employers 'prefer school leavers to graduates'

Almost one-fifth of employers believe school leavers make better employees than graduates, with many saying university does not properly prepare people for the cut and thrust of work.

According to a survey by recruitment specialist Adecco, more than half (53 per cent) of employers think graduates have "unrealistic expectations" of working life and 36 per cent think higher education does not provide the key skills businesses require.

Worryingly, many graduates appear to agree with this assessment, as 46 per cent admitted that their degree had not given them the right attributes to get ahead in their chosen field.

Employers cited a lack of interpersonal skills and lack of critical IT skills as the biggest problems with graduates. Another 25 per cent said that even with a university education behind them, many applicants had poor basic literacy and numeracy skills.

On the whole, younger employees were seen as less conscientious than older staff. Only four per cent of businesses said that 25-year-olds had better attitudes towards timekeeping than 40-year-olds, while just six per cent gave the younger generation the edge when it came to teamwork.

Furthermore, today's graduates were seen as being much less likely to work longer hours, go the extra mile or show loyalty to their employer.

Ninety-one per cent of businesses rated attitude and personality as the most important criteria when assessing a potential recruit, while only 35 per cent thought academic or vocational qualifications were the most important factor.

Chris Moore, managing director of Adecco Group Solutions, 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.

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