Amazon.com description: Product Description: Skill shortages are a recurring problem of the UK economy. During recent cycles, key labour shortages have been present even during recession, intensifying as the economy picks up and preventing the achievement of full economic potential during such periods. This book addresses issues concerning the measurement and scale of recent skill shortages, the causes and consequences of such shortages and the need for more considered, appropriate and better policy responses. The book brings together a number of experts in this area. They examine the lessons to be learnt from the recent high levels of activity and indicate the consequences of failing to take appropriate action during the current recession for growth during the next upturn in the economy. The conclusion of the various authors is that without a more coherent policy approach the UK will never achieve its full growth potential.