Labour has pledged to “throw open the door” for adults to study and retrain throughout their lives.
Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner is today announcing plans to end the skills shortage by allowing adults to return to education for free.
Labour analysis reveals the number of adults achieving qualifications in basic skills has plummeted since 2011 - with the number currently learning at its lowest point since 1996.
It comes as new figures showed that economic growth has slowed to its lowest rate in almost a decade, underlining the need for a skilled workforce.
Labour’s plans could help thousands of people to change career, retrain if they are made redundant or get the qualifications they did not manage to pick up when younger.
And they would equip workers to meet the challenges of automation in industry and the need to tackle climate change.
Under Labour’s plans, any adult without A-level or equivalent qualification could attend college to study for them for free.
Every adult would also be entitled to six years of study for diplomas and degrees while workers would get the right to paid time off for education and training.
The UK has a severe skills shortage, particularly in higher technical skills, with the CBI claiming two thirds of businesses worry they won’t be able to fill skilled posts.
The Tories have slashed funding for further education and skills training by 47% and overseen a 25% decline in adults enrolling in education.
Ms Rayner said: “Labour will throw open the door for adults to study, whether they want to change career, are made redundant or didn’t get the qualifications they needed when they were younger.
“For many, adult education is too expensive, too time-consuming or too difficult to get into.
“People have been held back for too long. We will make free education a right to ensure we have the skills we need to allow our economy to rise to the opportunities of the future.”
