Recession causing London’s workforce to stagnate’ says VSO charity

THE recession is making London’s workers stagnate and lose its skills, an international charity warns. Recession-fuelled pay cuts, slashed training budgets and stalled promotions have left half the workforce struggling, with nearly a fifth worried they have lost one to two years’ skills in their career progress

THE recession is making London's workers stagnate and lose its skills, an international charity warns today.

Recession-fuelled pay cuts, slashed training budgets and stalled promotions have left half London's workforce struggling, with nearly a fifth worried they have lost one to two years' skills in their career progress.

Research by Voluntary Service Overseas reveals half the population is worried about stagnating professionally.

The charity is urging employers to consider sabbaticals as a cost-effective alternative.

"Companies must not neglect staff development," the charity's UK director Judith Brodie urged.

"Investing in a good workforce is key to surviving the recession and will speed up recovery."

One-in-10 workers are already thinking about volunteering to escape career stagnation, the charity claims.

The research kickstarts VSO's autumn recruitment drive for 330 volunteers needed with backgrounds in health, education, business, communications and advocacy.

Enquiries to the charity, which pays for flights, accommodation and offers a daily allowance, have doubled in the last six months.