Employers fear they will be unable recruit students with the skills they need as the economic recovery kicks in, a new survey 67.reveals.

Nearly half of organisations told researchers they were already struggling to find 68.staff with skills in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM), 69.while even more companies expect to experience 70.shortages of employees with Stem skills in the next three years.

The Confederation of British Industry and the vocational qualifications body EDI 71.surveyed 694 organisations across the public and 72.private sectors, which together employ 2.4 million people.

Half are 73.concerned they will not be able to fill graduate posts in the coming years, while a third said they would not be able to 74.recruit enough employees with the right A-level skills.

"75.As we move further into recovery and businesses plan 76.for growth, the demand for people with high-quality skills and qualifications will 77.intensify," said Richard Lambert, director general, CBI.

"In the future, people with qualifications in science and maths will be particularly sought after, and firms say it is already hard to find people with the right 78.technical or engineering skills. The new government must make it a top 79.priority to encourage more young people to study science-related 80.subjects."

The survey found that young people would improve their job prospects 81.if they studied business studies, maths, English and physics or chemistry at A-level. The A-levels that employers 82.rate least are psychology and sociology. And while many employers don't insist on a 83.particular degree subject, a third prefer to hire those with a Stem-related subject.

The research 84.highlighted worries about the lack of progress in improving basic skills in the UK 85.workforce. Half of employers expressed worries about employees' basic literacy and numeracy skills, while the biggest problem is with IT skills, 86. where two-thirds reported concerns.