Almost three-quarters of the UK workforce now have a Level 2 qualification - the equivalent of five good GCSEs – according to the government.

The final Labour Force Survey of 2006 reports that 17.5 million people - 73.9% of working adults - now have a Level 2 or equivalent qualification.

More than half – 52.4% - of te working population are also qualified to NVQ Level 3 (the equivalent of two A levels) corresponding to around 12.4 million adults.

Compared to four years ago, the figures show 1,141,000 more adults are now qualified to Level 2, exceeding the one million milestone set for adult skills targets for the end of 2006.

In the Leitch Review of Skills, published in December 2006, Sandy Leitch challenged the Government to get at least 90% of the population equipped with Level 2 qualifications by 2020.

The minister for further education, higher education and lifelong learning, Bill Rammell said: "This is a major achievement and shows that we are well on the way to meeting the ambitious targets set by Lord Leitch.

"These qualifications will make a real difference to people's lives and careers, as well as ensuring the future economic competitiveness of this country. It is absolutely right that we are prioritising Adult Education funding to get adults up to Level 2."

Mark Haysom, chief executive of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) said: "Those with a full Level 2 qualification are three times as likely to be offered training by their employer. They earn more, they are much less likely to be unemployed, much less likely to be in prison or involved in crime and they are much more likely to go on to get the higher qualifications that the economy increasingly needs.”