The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has warned that the UK is facing a looming skills crisis after new analysis revealed a sharp drop in workplace training.

The TUC says that with automation and new technology changing the way many work, millions will need the chance to re-skill over the next 20 years.

The TUC study shows that workers are, on average, receiving 10% less training a year than in 2011.

For young workers (-16%) and lower qualified workers (-20%) the trend is even worse. Young workers, those most in need, have lost the equivalent of a day’s training a year.

The new report builds on an earlier study which showed that workplace training has fallen significantly over the past 20 years.

The Training Trends in Britain report also reveals that:

• Employee training courses are becoming shorter with more than a half lasting (56%) less than a week, compared to around a third (34%) in 1996.
• The proportion of off-the-job training has plummeted from 73% in 1996 to 53% in 2018.
• Union members are more likely to get training, with 37% saying they accessed training in the last three months compared to 22% of non-union members.

But with huge cuts to adult education and fewer courses being run for workers, the UK is on a course for a massive skills deficit.

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “The world of work is going to change massively over the coming years. If employers don’t increase workplace training, Britain faces a looming skills and productivity crisis.

“Everyone must be given the training they need to keep up with changes in technology.”