Firms reassessing workforce skills - graduate jobs

The Government has been urged to do more to stimulate economic growth and boost jobs after it was revealed that half of companies were considering or certain to be cutting jobs in the next six months.

In such a harsh environment, the benefit of strong skills and focused career advice for graduates is more vital than ever.

One in 10 firms surveyed by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said they would definitely axe jobs in the coming months and an additional 41% admitted they were considering cutting their workforce. One in two of the 450 companies polled did not believe the UK economy would return to growth until the first half of 2010. The BCC said it was vital that the Government continues to promote measures that stimulate growth in investment and jobs.

Director of policy, Adam Marshall, said: "It will be business that drives an economic recovery, boosting employment along the way. Policies to help businesses retain jobs, and increase employment, will be critical over the next 12 months. Scrapping plans to raise National Insurance contributions in 2011 is an obvious place to start."

The research also found that swine flu had not had an impact on more than four out of five companies.

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