Sep 13, 2013 06:35 AM EDT By Staff Reporter, UniversityHerald Reporter

U.K. employers are unhappy with today's graduates!

Recruiters claim that fresh grads lack essential skills needed to sustain in a work place including team work, communication, punctuality and the ability to cope under stress. A survey conducted on company leaders found that just one in five firms think graduates are 'work ready.'

YouGov, an international internet-based market research firm in the U.K. surveyed 635 employers, out of which 419 were directly responsible for recruiting graduates.

Overall, 52 percent of employers stated that none or few graduates were work-ready when they joined; 17 percent claimed that none of them were prepared for the job and just 19 per cent of business leaders said that all or most graduates were work-ready.

The organization also found that just 17 percent of employers looked into graduates' university degree classification during their hiring process and only eight percent of recruiters focused on the university they attended.

The research was commissioned by The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide.

The findings reflect the current condition of higher education in the country where most of the colleges and universities are focused on ensuring students' course completion rather than equipping them with life skills.

Experts also questioned the worth of employability programs offered by many institutions intended to prepare students for jobs. Plus, they also shed light on the ever increasing tuition fee of such programs. Currently, the cost is estimated to be nearly $14,220 per year in England.

 "University prospectuses are now full of programmes and initiatives promising to give students more than just a degree. They say they will equip students with the skills they need to make them more attractive to employers," said Alastair McCall, one of the guide's editors. "The YouGov survey findings suggest this is an investment that is sorely needed. With the typical degree now costing $42,661 in tuition fees alone, students have a right to be better prepared for the battleground that is the graduate jobs market.

"The survey also shows how crucial it is to make an informed choice of course and university when investing so much money in a degree."

See Now: Covert Team Inside Newsweek Revealed as Key Players in False Human Trafficking Lawsuit