The majority of employers (86 per cent) believe work experience should be compulsory for all school pupils before work is started.

Most of those who responded to the survey – carried out by the organisers of The World of Learning exhibition and conference – also felt that the basic life skills of today’s school leavers, including literacy and numeracy, are worse than five years ago.

Jim Reilly, project manager for World of Learning, said: “It is interesting to see the value that employers place on work experience. Not only does it provide opportunities for young people to learn directly about working life and the working environment but it also enables them to see how their school studies are relevant in the workplace.”

The survey was based on a sample of 480 managers with responsibility for training.