The organisation’s annual survey shows employees in the sector spend an average of 49 hours a year on continuing professional development (CPD). They are only required to complete between six and 30 hours, depending on their roles and whether they work full- or part-time.

Workers in public sector organisations receive the most training, totalling more than 61 hours a year, the survey reveals.

Staff in FE colleges receive around 50 hours a year, with employees in work-based learning environments and the armed services completing 55 and 59 hours respectively.

Jean Kelly, director for professional development at the IfL, said: “It is really encouraging that even in times of real change and uncertainty, professionalism is still seen as an important thing to hang on to.

“There are 25 per cent cuts expected in the FE and skills sector over the next three years, and it is next year that they will really start to bite.

“Teachers and trainers are obviously thinking about their marketability, keeping up to date with their subject specialism and doing more than they need to.”

The IfL report emphasised the need for CPD in a labour market and economy that is changing rapidly.

It also revealed that more teachers and trainers are sharing what they have learned - 64 per cent said they had shared their CPD with a colleague, up from only 44 per cent last year.

However, more work is needed to make teachers confident using technology to aid their training, with the IfL reporting that fewer than four in 10 were confident doing so.