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UK industry is missing out on "valuable talent" due to patchy careers advice that is not pointing students towards science subjects at an early age, the Commons has heard.
Leading an adjournment debate yesterday, Conservative MP Esther McVey said many students were often advised to take the wrong A-levels for what they wanted to read at university or would be better off taking apprenticeships.
The member for Wirral West said businesses were "crying-out" for technicians and engineer posts to be filled but many youngsters were unaware of science courses until it was too late.
She added that careers advice was currently "patchy and inconsistent", while many students did not find it useful.
As chair of the all-party group on the chemical industry, McVey told MPs she is "repeatedly" being told that talent is being overseen.
"Not only that but industry is crying out for those posts to be filled which equates to career opportunities that are not being used and jobs that are not being taken," she said.
"These are employment gaps that we could so very easily be filling now, especially at a time of very high youth unemployment. So we have so many opportunities wasted."
She added the way to tackle the problem was to get youngsters interested in science subjects from an early age so they could "connect with a broad range of choices they might not otherwise be aware of".
McVey told MPs this would provide teachers with the ability to tailor children's education according to what they are interested in.
Stella Creasy (Lab, Walthamstow) said she supported McVey's argyment but claimed many careers advisers, the people she said were needed to make the changes, faced redundancy under government cuts.
The Labour MP said: "She might have great ambitions for an all-age careers service, but the people necessary to support it will simply not be there by September this year to facilitate it."
Andrew Miller (Lab, Ellesmere Port and Neston) called for a cross-departmental approach with the Department for Education, and with those with responsibility for business and higher education, to start to formulate a strategy that will maximise the impact at the primary level.
He urged the minister: "Hold fire on pulling the plug on Connexions, because we need a more sophisticated transition from where we are now to where I think all of us on both sides of the House would like us to get to."
Responding for the government, skills minister John Hayes said the government has to improve the education system so every young person gets the "support, guidance and inspiration they need to make a success of their life".
The minister said high-quality learning provision is needed with "clear routes into a range of rewarding careers".
He said that the establishment of an all-age careers service, providing excellent professionally delivered careers guidance to young people and adults, lies at the heart of that and the support of schools will be a "vital component in its success".
He added: "I will ensure that we address all of the points made at the outset of this debate.
"Let me make this clear - education is a key driver of economic growth, individual well-being and communal health.
"It changes lives by changing life chances and guidance and advice is critical to that.
"CS Lewis said 'What you believe is what you are' and this coalition government believes passionately in social cohesion, social mobility and social justice."
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