No training for six months for most job seekers

More than half of job seekers have not attended a training course for six months, according to a poll.

The survey of 623 candidates by recruitment firm Randstad found that only 22% had received training in the last month, while 57% had not attended a course in more than six months.

The Leitch Review insisted in 2006 that huge training efforts were needed from employers to avoid a bleak future trying to compete with India and China.

Now the latest figures suggest employers not training staff risk losing them to competitors.

A Randstad spokeswoman said: "Encouraging staff training is vital in an environment where skills shortages are rife. There are pools of workers who have the potential to grow and thrive in their working environment but are never given the opportunity to do so."