Skills Gaps (Long-term Labour Market Strategy)
8. Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab)
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its long-term labour
market strategy, what steps it is taking to address any skills
shortages affecting the economy. (S6O-02655)
The Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy
()
As I have just set out in my response to Rona Mackay’s question,
we are taking a range of actions to address labour market and
skills shortages, including better aligning the education and
skills system with the needs of employers and the economy, as
outlined in the national strategy for economic transformation.
Through the publication of the initial priorities of purpose and
principles, the Scottish Government has committed to taking
responsibility for skills planning at national level, working
with partners to set clear priorities against future skills needs
and supported by a regional approach.
Paul O’Kane
On that regional approach, the skills shortage that is
highlighted in the Withers report and by others is particularly
acute in my region. Regional employment has grown by only 0.6 per
cent over the past decade, compared with a nationwide average of
4 per cent. Furthermore, according to figures from Skills
Development Scotland, productivity is well below the national
average. Indeed, we have had proper challenges in West Scotland,
with large employers leaving the region. Just in the past few
weeks, we have heard about uncertainty over jobs at Rolls-Royce
in Renfrewshire.
What is the cabinet secretary doing across Government to tackle
the shortages in the skills base, to ensure that we retain
businesses that are badly in need of skills?
It is about both those things. I very much recognise the
situation that Paul O’Kane has set out. I have been working with
some of the employers in the west of Scotland who have been
looking at either reducing their workforce or moving out, to try
to support those businesses to remain, as he would expect.
On the skills front, we will be coming forward with our response
to the Withers review. In addition, in terms of our work on the
green industrial strategy, it is critical to ensure that we have
a skills system that is aligned to the forthcoming green energy
revolution.
I am more than happy to collaborate with Paul O’Kane in the areas
that he has an interest in to ensure that we are getting this
right.
