'Huge demand' for science graduates - graduate jobs

Almost 50% of employers are worried they will not be able to find suitably qualified candidates in scientific subjects to fill job vacancies, as demand for highly skilled staff increases, according to a new report.

A survey of almost 700 employers found that a third believed the need for lower level skills will fall, while almost half said they were already having problems recruiting workers with skills in science, technology, engineering and maths.

Business group the CBI, which carried out the survey, said studying science, technology, engineering and maths opens doors to a range of job opportunities and it urged the Government to encourage the take-up of such subjects.

Employers questioned by the CBI said A level subjects such as business studies, maths, English, physics or chemistry would be best for boosting a young person's job prospects.

Subjects least rated in terms of employability included psychology and sociology, while the importance of studying science to degree level was stressed again by firms.

Matthew Knowles, spokesman for the UK's aerospace, defence and security trade organisation ADS, which is a CBI member, said: "High-tech manufacturing and services sectors such as those that we represent have a large number of skilled people approaching retirement age.

"To avoid losing business overseas in what are highly-competitive global industries, in which the UK is number one in Europe and second only to the US globally, we need more high-calibre young people studying science, technology, engineering and maths. The future economic prosperity of the country depends on us securing a continuous flow of such well-qualified young people," he said.