The research, from skills body City & Guilds Group, also found that less than half (46 per cent) of workers get enough help and support to upskill from their employer.

This is despite the vast majority (80 per cent) believing it important to continuously update their workplace skills, regardless of age or the stage in their career.

Nearly half of those surveyed (48 per cent) expect the skills they need to do their jobs to change significantly over the next five years, and for good reason - the digitalisation of manufacturing towards robotics and other smart technologies mean workers are having to adapt to changing factory environments.

Martin Hottass, Group Director at City & Guilds Group, said:

“The manufacturing industry is critical for the UK’s growth and prosperity as we navigate the challenges and complexities of the fourth industrial revolution, and technological advances render skills obsolete quicker than ever before.

“Learning shouldn’t stop once an individual leaves school or college and enters the workforce. Ongoing training throughout the lifetime of a career is particularly important for an industry like manufacturing – which relies on its workers operating with the highest levels of technical skills. It is vital that businesses are offering opportunities for employees to continually learn, develop and upskill.”