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Publishers are facing severe skills shortages because potential employees lack the necessary skills, a report by the Publishing National Training Organisation reveals.
It claims 50 per cent of publishing companies have vacancies at any one time and posts are proving hard to fill.
The report also shows that 90 per cent of the 500 employers surveyed believe the skills needed in the industry are increasing. The Publishing NTO says this is because of new technology and working practices.
Respondents state that current staff have the right skills but there is a shortage of high-quality employees entering the industry.
Joanne Butcher, chief executive of the Publishing NTO, said, "Although we do not have the crisis that is hitting nursing and teaching, there are critical challenges. There is a shortage of high-quality people, even though more people are coming into the industry."
Carol Eaton, training director of Reed Business Information, agreed: "Most of our induction staff have to go through heavy training to obtain the basic skills and knowledge to do the job."
She continued, "When we were recruiting for our editorial training scheme we had over 400 applicants for 10 places, all with some form of journalistic training, and yet the majority could not put an application together.
"Employers now look for employees with the right attitude and approach to the job rather than the skills."
The NTO, which was launched last month, aims to attract high-quality graduates through better promotion of the sector.
The industry has sales of more than £18bn and employs over 180,000 people, making it the third biggest creative industry in the country.
By Paul Nelson
