'Of all the factors of production, man is the most difficult to move' -Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations.
As Britain's economy expands, so once again labour becomes scarce. There are now at least 275,000 vacant jobs in Britain. Many employers never bother to notify the Labour Exchange of vacancies. But there are still three-quarters of a million unemployed. And even in areas like the North East, where unemployment remains high, factories and building sites are seriously short of skilled workers, and a bricklayer can earn £100 a week without overtime. In the booming South East even unskilled workers are hard to find. Where have all the workers gone?
Reporter Paul Griffiths goes to Teesside and Darlington to see for himself. He also visits the half-empty clothing factories of London's East End. This is the first detailed report on Britain's latest problem - an economy short of the right people with the right skills - in the right places.
Presented by Brian Widlake
with Robert McKenzie