According to the Elemense/OnePoll findings, the gap is seen as worst in the technical and engineering industries, with 57.7% overall identifying a problem in these compared to the next highest (26.6%) in professions such as finance or HR.
The results reveal that 54.5% of respondents felt the lack of skills in science, technology, engineering and maths would only get worse over the next five years.
The revealing survey not only supported the anecdotal evidence which has been causing growing unease, but also highlighted regional variations and differences in attitudes depending on workers' age, seniority and gender.
Commenting on the results, Elemense managing director Peter Collis said: "The results come amid fears that the UK is slipping in its capacity to compete against global rivals, particularly in the technology and knowledge-based economy, as businesses and organisations find it increasingly difficult to find candidates with appropriate technical and engineering skills and experience.
"This is being exacerbated by the shocking 68.8% that think the current generation of students do not have 'robust attitudes and the right aptitudes to prepare for work in the knowledge-based and technology industries'."
