Growing skills shortages in the UK in fields such IT and engineering are being met by professionals from overseas, new research shows.

A study by KPMG and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) found that almost half (45 per cent) of 600 bosses quizzed reported that they found some vacancies hard to fill as a result of talent gaps.

These shortages are particularly acute, the report states, in fields such as engineering (21 per cent), accountancy and finance and IT (both 18 per cent).

As a result, employers are looking overseas for new recruits, with 17 per cent of respondents revealing they plan to hire migrant workers during the third quarter of 2010 and 21 per cent reporting they have appointed staff members from abroad in the past three months.

CIPD public policy adviser Gerwyn Davies, who wrote the report, stated: "The proposed introduction of a migration cap comes at a time when many employers are still struggling to fill skilled vacancies, despite the high unemployment rate."

Meanwhile, e-skills UK recently warned that IT jobs in the UK are being affected by skills shortages, as the number of "ready candidates" in the country declines.

Posted by Kate Griffin