UK Wakes up to chronic skills shortage

Over half of all UK employers use personality tests to assess people skills.

A recent survey by the Business Test Publishers Association (BTPA) highlights that UK employers are waking up to the fact that their businesses face a chronic skills shortage. An ageing population and increased demand for people skills means that employers have to be more savvy when it comes to recruiting.

Richard Alberg, Chairman of the BTPA commented: ìThe increased use of personality testing in British business reflects a marked trend over the last decade away from ëhard skillsí testing to a recognition that a candidateís softer, personality skills need to be assessed. Companies are finally waking up to the fact that people skills are the key to success and promotion and testing is an objective and valid way to asses these.î
There was also an increase in the use of ì softer assessments ì analysing human characteristics beyond intelligence and ability, as well as a greater emphasis on development of existing staff, though selection of new staff is still the greatest single use to which tests are put.