Employees with professional qualifications could earn £81,000 more during their career than those without, according to a study commissioned by eight UK professional bodies.

The study, based on analysis of data for six consecutive quarters of the Labour Force Survey, also shows that members of a professional body could earn an additional £71,000 during their career.

Having professional qualifications not only boosts your income but can also improve your chances of being employed by 9%, according to the study.

Charles Tilley, chairman of the Consultative Committee for Professional Management Organisations, said: “Driving up demand for professionalism in the UK has the potential to be immense.

"Not only can individuals benefit at a personal level, but the spill-over effect brought about by influencing team members can have a huge impact on UK productivity.”

The eight professional bodies involved in the study are now calling for the creation of a professional skills council to identify gaps and shortages of professional skills across a range of industries.

Ruth Spellman, chief executive at the Chartered Management Institute, said: “The creation of a professional skills council would deliver significant value by highlighting employer need, raising employer ambition and encouraging UK organisations to make strategic investments in the development of their teams.

“After all, if employers think competent people are expensive, they should take a moment to think about the cost of incompetence.”