A QUARTER of the companies in Richmondshire have job vacancies.

A survey for the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) also found that 13 per cent of employers in the district had vacancies that were proving difficult to fill.

The survey looked at the extent to which employers assess the skill needs of their workforce and how they plan training.

It also examined the amount of employers facing difficulties recruiting because of a skill shortage.

David Harbourne, executive director of LSC North Yorkshire, said: "Job vacancies are a normal part of business life but become a bigger problem when they are difficult to fill within the available timescale or to fill with the desired calibre of employee.

"These figures reflect the situation in the York and North Yorkshire area but are higher than the national picture.

"There is evidence of a reasonable amount of training activity taking place across Richmondshire."

He said 58 per cent of employers had provided training in the past 12 months and 35 per cent cent had training plans in place.

This meant more than half the employees received training over the past year, he said.