Mismatch

I asked Google Bard in which areas of the economy the UK is a leader. Here's the result:

The UK is a global leader in a wide range of industries, including: 

• Financial services:London is a major center for international finance, home to many of the world's largest banks and insurance companies. The UK is also a leader in fintech, or financial technology, which is the use of technology to innovate and improve financial services. 
• The UK has a thriving creative industries sector, which includes film, television, music, fashion, and design. The UK is home to Hollywood on the Thames, a nickname for several major film studios outside of the United States, and is a global leader in fashion, with London Fashion Week being one of the four major fashion weeks in the world. 
• The UK is a world leader in life sciences, which includes pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and medical devices. The UK has a strong track record of developing new drugs and medical technologies.
• Aerospace:The UK has a long and successful history in aerospace, and is a major player in the global aerospace industry. The UK is home to a number of world-leading aerospace companies, such as Rolls-Royce and BAE Systems. 
• Professional and business services: The UK is a major center for professional and business services, such as accounting, law, and consulting. The UK is home to a number of world-leading professional services firms, such as PricewaterhouseCoopers and KPMG. 

These are just a few of the many areas in which the UK excels. The UK's strong economy, skilled workforce, and world-class universities all contribute to its success in a wide range of industries. 

These are the areas where government should be focussing investment to maintain leadership; however, these are all areas of the economy that require reasonably high levels of educational attainment and are thus open mainly to the middle classes.

I then asked what areas of the UK economy are open to those with low academic attainment: 

• Trades and Construction: This includes electricians, plumbers, carpenters, welders, and other skilled workers who build, maintain, and repair structures. Many of these roles involve apprenticeships or on-the-job training, allowing you to learn and earn simultaneously. 
• Manufacturing and Production: Factories often require assembly line workers, machine operators, and other positions that focus on specific tasks. These roles can provide stability and a chance to develop technical skills. 
• Logistics and Transportation: Truck drivers, delivery personnel, warehouse workers, and logistics coordinators are all in high demand. These jobs often involve getting a commercial driver's license (CDL) and offer opportunities for advancement. 
• Customer Service: Retail stores, restaurants, call centers, and hospitality businesses all need employees to interact with customers. These roles can provide valuable communication and interpersonal skills training. 
• Healthcare Support: Nursing assistants, home health aides, and other paraprofessionals play a vital role in patient care. While some require certifications, many offer on-the-job training.

Notice the mismatch? Not only is there a mismatch between what we're good at and what's open to those with low academic achievement, but the areas open to those of low academic achievement are not, in the main, growth industries. 

Building is in the doldrums, being driven by money available for housing. We're no longer a world class manufacturing nation, having shifted to services. Yes, transport and logistics is booming with the shift to on-line purchasing; however, retail is moving to on-line platforms. Having isolated ourselves from the EU has also impacted transport and logistics. Healthcare suffers from very poor wages and most care homes are foreign owned.