Computer skills are essential to almost half of all UK jobs, according to research published today.

The Skills at Work, 1986 to 2006 study, published by the ESRC Research Centre on Skills, Knowledge and Organisational Performance (SKOPE), says half of all jobs in 2006 required computer skills, compared with less than a third in 1997.

The report includes the first findings from the 2006 Skills Survey, a nationally representative study of 4,800 UK workers aged between 20 and 65, as well as reports over the last 20 years.

The survey found that although computers are essential for a greater proportion of women's jobs than men's jobs (50 per cent compared with 45 per cent), a smaller proportion of women's jobs than men's jobs require the use of computers at complex or advanced levels (21 per cent compared with 35 per cent ).

Minister for science and innovation Malcolm Wicks says the report highlights the need for people to develop skills at all levels regardless of their profession.

'We recognise that in today's competitive global environment, Britain has to have a skilled, innovative workforce in order to compete,' said Wicks.