Source · National Audit Office

Developing workforce skills for a strong economy

Published: 13 Jul 2022 Recommendations: 5 Type: Value for Money NAO confirmed: 5 Department: Department for Education

This report examines whether government has an effective approach to enhancing workforce skills.

Dept: Department for Education Topics: Business and industryEconomic growthEducation, training and skillsPeople and operationsTraining and skillsWorkforce nao.org.uk →

Recommendations

5 items

5 accepted 5 implemented

Rec	Recommendation	Addressee	Acceptance	Implementation
1	Develop a strategy and supporting implementation plan for achieving its objectives on workforce skills, building on the approach set out in the Skills for Jobs white paper. This should set out: ? how different parts of the system, and different programmes, will interact with each other to make a coherent whole; ? how central and local government will work together to support skills development in local places; ? different ?user journeys?, and how employers and individuals will be incentivised to develop skills and engage with the skills system; ? the risks and opportunities that could affect government?s ambitions; and ? the full set of metrics that government will use to monitor progress. Ref Page 13, Paragraph 26, Point a · Implemented 10/2025	Department for Education	Accepted	Implemented ✓ NAO
2	Work with mayoral combined authorities and other local bodies to establish how it can achieve the 2030 Levelling Up skills mission most effectively, and report regularly on whether it is on track. DfE should work with DLUHC in particular on this area. Ref Page 13, Paragraph 26, point d · Implemented 03/2023	Department for Education	Accepted	Implemented ✓ NAO
3	Strengthen oversight of government?s portfolio of skills initiatives by regular reporting against performance metrics from across departments to the Labour Market Steering Group; and clarifying how different cross-government forums fit together. DfE should work with the Cabinet Office in particular on this area. Ref Page 13, Paragraph 26, point b · Implemented 01/2024	Department for Education	Accepted	Implemented ✓ NAO
4	Consider specific issues relating to older workers who form a growing proportion of the workforce, including current and future skills gaps, barriers to participation in skills training and how these barriers could be addressed. DfE should work with DWP in particular on this area. Ref Page 13, Paragraph 26, point c · Implemented 03/2023	Department for Education	Accepted	Implemented ✓ NAO
5	Support the Unit for Future Skills to focus on the most important areas of forecasting and assess whether the Unit is effectively influencing stakeholders to use the intelligence and insights it generates Ref Page 13, Paragraph 26, point e · Implemented 01/2024	Department for Education	Accepted	Implemented ✓ NAO

Public Accounts Committee follow-up

1 report

The Public Accounts Committee examined this NAO report and published its own recommendations. The government responds to PAC recommendations via Treasury Minutes.

14 Dec 2022 Public Accounts C… Thirtieth Report - Developing workforce skills for a strong economy — 14 recommendations · parliament.uk