The current education system is failing to equip young people with the necessary skills in the world of work, according to the findings of a new survey.

Commissioned by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) in partnership with Pearson Education, the poll revealed that 61 per cent of employers are alarmed about the "resilience and self-management" faculties of school leavers.

A third of the respondents expressed concern over the attitude that young people had towards work, finding that it lacks respect and enthusiasm.

Interestingly, nearly all organisations (96 per cent) reported their satisfaction with the IT abilities of school leavers, suggesting that this is one area that is proving to be a resounding success in education.

On the whole, firms expressed a desire for schools to do more to boost standards in literacy and maths, with over half stating that better awareness of working life needs to be demonstrated to 14-19-year-olds.

John Cridland, director-general of the CBI, commented that businesses feel "very strongly" about the education system's shortcomings with regards to preparing them for "life outside the school gates".

"The journey from school towards the world of work can be daunting, so we must support schools and teachers to help develop the skills, character and attitudes students need to progress in life," he added.

"We’re hearing the right noises from politicians, but the need for genuine reform on the ground remains. We need young people who are rigorous, rounded and grounded, and business stands ready to play its part."

Other key concerns communicated by employers include young people having a lack of knowledge about their chosen job/career; a lack of relevant work experience; and an ever-expanding skills gap.

Employers have therefore had to take on this burden and upskill their new recruits, with 44 per cent of respondents saying that they have delivered training to deal with weaknesses in IT, literacy and numeracy.

"There is a crisis in UK skills right now and our incapacity to meet growing demands for higher skills is putting the long-term prospects of the UK economy at risk," Mr Cridland continued.

"We need to create more apprenticeships, but also retrain current workers with in-demand skills in key sectors."