A CHARITY has demanded the government “make apprenticeships work for young people” after its study found that trainees are struggling to pay for basic living costs.

Two out of five apprentices spent more money completing their training than they earned, while many were left with nothing to live on after paying for work clothes, travel and childcare, according to a study by the Young Women’s Trust.

Young women apprentices were found to be even worse off, earning £6.67 an hour on average compared to men’s hourly wage of £7.25. Female apprentices were also more likely to fork out money for child care.

While men are more likely to go into higher paid engineering apprenticeships, women tend to go into lower paying sectors such as hairdressing and childcare.

The Young Women’s Trust warned that the government must take action to make apprenticeships worthwhile for young women, or risk failing on its targets to create three million apprenticeships by 2020 and plug the skills gap.

Chief executive Dr Carole Easton said: “Young women can struggle to start and stay in apprenticeships due to low pay, a lack of support and gender stereotypes that shut them out of vital sectors like construction and engineering.

“Lots of young people tell us they can't afford to do an apprenticeship; the £3.50 an hour minimum wage barely covers the bus to work, let alone bills and rent. It’s time the government made apprenticeships work for young people.”

The charity is calling for the apprentice minimum wage to be raised.