Research by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) has warned that business may be held back in taking advantage of the recovering economy by a worsening skills shortage. Inadequate skills, qualifications or experience in the workforce is hitting industries as the UKCES found that last year 22 per cent of job vacancies were unfilled compared with 16% two years earlier. The study said employers struggled to find employees with the “core generic skills” of communication, literacy and numeracy.