Forties People

People aged 40-plus could get into their ideal jobs if they boost their skills, experts have suggested.

According to the European Commission, those with few or no formal qualifications are 40 per cent more likely to be passed over by recruiters.

Figures from the organisation also showed that about one in three Europeans currently do not have enough qualifications to tempt employers.

Vladimir Spidla, the European commissioner for employment, has therefore urged member states to take action to boost their skills levels.

This, he said, could help the continent recover from the recent global financial crisis.

"Improving people's skills will help us out of the crisis in the short term and prepare for sustainable economic success in the future," Mr Spidla commented.

This comes after a Department for Business, Innovation and Skills spokesman said increasing the UK's skills base is "critical" to its economic recovery and the success of the business sector.