More than three million vocational qualifications were awarded last year and the number of schools offering them has doubled in 12 months, according to figures released today.

The work-related courses are growing in popularity with more than twice as many people taking them in 2007 than five years earlier, a review claims.

But David Cameron will today publish a Green Paper on skills, which calls for more career guidance in schools.

The Tory leader wants a dedicated, full-time careers adviser in every secondary school and further education college, to give practical support.

This, he hopes, will help to tackle the decline in popularity of science, technology, engineering and maths subjects(STEM).

David Willetts, the Shadow Skills Secretary, said: “Young people just aren’t getting the information they need about education, apprenticeships and careers. Too many are studying subjects that won’t lead them to the career they want because they don’t realise how valuable STEM subjects are.

“Others are simply missing out on opportunities because they did not know they were available. It is vital that careers advice is high quality and accessible.”

The report on vocational qualifications found healthcare, retail, business, construction and engineering were the most popular areas, but courses can be taken in subjects as diverse as bartending and being a janitor.

However cake decoration, nail art and parking control qualifications are among those facing the scrap. The Government announced earlier this year that thousands of practical courses would no longer be offered in state schools and colleges, because it wanted to streamline what was on offer.

Edge, an educational foundation, published today’s figures in what it claims is the first review of vocational qualifications. It says demand from employers for relevant training is fuelling the growth in interest in such courses.

Its research found 3.25 million vocational qualifications were awarded last year - an increase of 8.3 per cent on the previous year.

A spokesman said: “The popularity of vocational courses has prompted many schools to offer a broader curriculum.

“The number of schools awarding vocational qualifications doubled in the last year, although colleges, private training companies and employers remain the largest providers.”

More than half of NVQ awards were achieved by people aged over 25. Other practical qualifications include City & Guilds and BTECs.

The report found teenagers were increasingly taking vocational courses originally designed for adults. These included food and drink, accounting, and IT qualifications.

While women achieved more higher level NVQs than men, fewer than three per cent of them took qualifications in engineering or construction.

Andy Powell, the chief executive of Edge, said: “Britain currently has six million unskilled workers; by 2020 Lord Leitch \[who conducted a skills review\] has predicted that the country will need just half a million.

“Jobs requiring vocational skills and qualifications are expected to rise across all industry sectors including construction, science and engineering, but also in sales, customer service and personal service occupations.

“There’s simply no argument: the UK needs more people with vocational qualifications.”

The rise in people taking vocational courses has been accompanied by increased success rates.

Passes at further education colleges increased by an average of 2.5 per cent a year between 2003 and 2007, reaching 78 per cent last year.

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