Growth

It's interesting to look at the growth of the job market, and what key skills can be identified from this to then be integrated into the curriculum.

In May 18 the top 3 sectors of employment are (thousand): Wholesale and Retail: repair of motor vehicle and motorcycles at 4968; Human Health and Social Work activities at 4432; and Professional, Scientific, and Technical activities at 3050 (information from ons.gov.uk).

How has it changed in 15 years?

What's more interesting is how it has changed in the last 15 years. Not only is there a slight change to the top three, but rise and declines in each sector.

In May 2003 the top 3 sectors are (thousand): Wholesale and Retail: repair of motor vehicle and motorcycles at 5011; Manufacturing at 3439; and Human Health and Social Work activities at 3293.

Therefore in 15 years Manufacturing has moved out of the top 3, and Professional, Scientific, and Technical activities have moved into the top 3. Although the decline (thousand) by 43 in the Wholesale and Retail: repair of motor vehicle and motorcycles, and rise by (thousand) 1,139 in Human Health and Social Work activities in the last 15 years is also to see.

However we should ask whether education establishments are recognising these and some of the core skills that could be highlighted within these sectors?

Communication skills, problem solving, and manual activities could be some of the main areas to be identified within all of these sectors that could be accommodated in the national curriculum.

The increase in exam only subjects in this country would suggest otherwise.