The first report from Skills England, the government’s new body for the skills system, has been published.

It provides an initial assessment of the nation’s working skills, as well as future skills needs and gaps which employers need.

It finds that the need for jobs and skills varies across industries, with the health and social care sector experiencing the highest demand, followed by education, manufacturing, and science and technology.

The top three largest occupations in critical demand in the health and social care industry are: care workers and home carers (725k), Senior care workers (83k), and Physiotherapists (47k).

The report has found that employer investment in training has been in steady decline over the past decade, with training expenditure at its lowest level since records began in 2011, with investment per employee down by 19% in real terms.

It also shows that, across the UK, almost 1 in 10, or over 2.5 million roles are in critical demand, with more than 90% being in roles that require training or education.

Over the coming months, Skills England will work with government departments and relevant stakeholders to expand on the initial assessments of skills needs within sectors.