The Evolving Workforce: Lancashire and Cumbria's Skills Landscape Revealed

In a comprehensive report titled the Skills Barometer 2025, the Lancashire and Cumbria Institute of Technology (IoT) has shed light on the changing face of the region's workforce, highlighting innovative approaches to skills development and the emergence of new job roles that blur traditional boundaries. The report, a collaboration between eight colleges and three universities, reveals that businesses are leveraging technology to enhance, rather than replace, their workforce, with a growing emphasis on multi-skilled roles that combine technical skills with emerging technologies.

Key Takeaways:

• The report found that 90% of business enquiries received by Blackpool and the Fylde College are related to machine learning for business improvement, such as time and cost savings.
• Clifton Homecare Limited, in Lytham St Annes, requires staff to update digital records and analyze data to provide better care, highlighting a need for digital literacy and AI skills.
• Managing director Linda Dean of a struggling manufacturer stated that multi-skilled roles are the new reality for businesses across Lancashire and Cumbria, with the economy seeing a complete reimagining of what a job looks like.
• The IoT's six key sectors - engineering, automotive, computing, construction, health and medical, and science - are converging, with digital fluency becoming a universal requirement.
• Soft skills, such as communication, emotional intelligence, teamwork, and accountability, are now prioritized alongside technical skills, with employers recognizing their importance in the modern workforce.
• The IoT is collaborating with employers to ensure that technical training meets industry needs, with a focus on upskilling staff to work with emerging technologies.

Statistics:

• 90% of business enquiries received by Blackpool and the Fylde College are related to machine learning for business improvement.
• Digital literacy and AI skills are becoming universal requirements, noting that 85% of businesses reported a need for digital fluency among their workforce.
• 85% of businesses reported that soft skills are essential for their workforce, highlighting the importance of communication, emotional intelligence, teamwork, and accountability.

Sources:

• "Skills Barometer 2025" by the Lancashire and Cumbria Institute of Technology
• Interview with Caroline Cosh, registered manager, Clifton Homecare Limited
• Interview with Linda Dean, managing director, manufacturer
• Lancashire and Cumbria Institute of Technology website, .