Time-served apprentices are likely to earn more money, stay longer with their employer and rise to a management job than people who don't do an apprenticeship, according to a new study

Career paths of former apprentices' found that those who complete an apprenticeship earn an average £23,400 a year - nearly £4,000 a year more than the average earned by people who don't do an apprenticeship.

The largest earnings difference is among people aged 36 to 41. Former apprentices in this age group earn an average of just under £26,000 a year, compared to just under £22,000 a year for people who didn't do an apprenticeship.

The report, published by the Learning and Skills Network (LSN), found that people who complete apprenticeships are also more likely to progress in the workplace. Twenty-eight percent of people who completed apprentices now hold a management position and a further 15% are in a supervisory role. By comparison, only 25% of people who didn't do an apprenticeship are managers and 11% are supervisors.

Sixty-one percent of people who completed an apprenticeship stay with their employers for five years or more. By comparison, only 46% of people who didn't do an apprenticeship stay with their employer for that length of time.

Jill Lanning, director of research at LSN, said: "Apprentices make loyal employees who understand the standards of work that their organisation expects. Employers value their apprentices and give them plenty of opportunities to develop their skills. People who complete an apprenticeship can look forward to a lucrative career, good prospects of promotion and an ongoing commitment from their employer."