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Research and analysis

Skills England Annual Skills Report and Sectoral Skills Needs Assessments 2026

The 2026 Annual Skills Report highlights key challenges in the skills system - our Skills Needs Assessments outline skills demand and supply in priority sectors.

Documents

Annual Skills Report 2026

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Sector Skills Needs Assessment – Advanced Manufacturing

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Sector Skills Needs Assessment – Clean Energy

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Sector Skills Needs Assessment – Construction

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Sector Skills Needs Assessment – Creative Industries

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Sector Skills Needs Assessment – Defence

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Sector Skills Needs Assessment – Digital and Technologies

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Sector Skills Needs Assessment – Financial Services

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Sector Skills Needs Assessment – Health and Adult Social Care

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Sector Skills Needs Assessment – Life Sciences

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Sector Skills Needs Assessment – Professional and Business Services

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Skills Needs Assessments: technical annex

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Accompanying tables for Skills Needs Assessments

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Details

Annual Skills Report

The annual skills report sets out the key challenges facing England’s skills system in 2026 and how Skills England is responding. It highlights the need for a more flexible, employer-led and evidence-driven system to address skills shortages, support young people, and align training with economic priorities.

Skills Needs Assessments

The Sectoral Skills Needs Assessments (SNAs) provide an overall view of current and future demand for skills, map pathways from courses to occupations, and identify where current provision can be developed to meet skills needs.

Across 10 priority sectors, the assessments combine sector-specific job projections from other government departments, with Skills England’s internal analysis to draw conclusions on skills demand and supply. 

The assessments are designed to support engagement with employers, and support policy making. 

Updates to this page

Published 1 June 2026

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