Apprenticeships have been “diluted” because of the government’s push to increase the number on offer, making some “low-skilled” courses “a waste of time”, according to the chief schools inspector.
In a speech, Sir Michael Wilshaw told business leaders “very few apprenticeships” were delivering the skills to the sectors most in need of them.
The head of Ofsted criticised employers for using apprenticeships to fund “cheap labour”, when they were in fact “wasting public funds” and “abusing the trust” taxpayers placed in them.
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Speaking to Sky News earlier, Sir Michael explained: "Those apprentices are being sold short, spending one year doing a pretty worthless job - not really an apprenticeship - and having no employment prospects at the end of it.
"That's not fair and it's not doing the economy any good and it's certainly not doing those youngsters much good either."
His comments were backed up by a special report released by the education watchdog which found there were "too many low-skilled roles are being classed as apprenticeships".
Some 1,400 people were quizzed by Ofsted, who found there had been a significant “rise in poor quality” courses which “devalued” apprenticeships.
One third "did not provide sufficient, high quality training that stretched the apprentices".
In some cases individuals were not even aware they were on an apprenticeship.