But the quality of apprenticeships on offer remains patchy.
And the emphasis on improving the quality of apprenticeships is welcome.
But critics worry the government has focused on numbers to the detriment of the quality of apprenticeships.
The Deparment for Business has published an independent report saying the quality of apprenticeships should be improved.
Skills for Care, the employer-led workforce development body for adult social care in England, is working with employers to improve the quality of apprenticeships.
"If this proposal is to avoid being a pile-them-high, sell-them-cheap approach and actually increase the quality of apprenticeships as well as hitting the government's 3m target, then the government must sit down with employers as a matter of urgency to design a workable scheme," added Thomas.
The government said the report recognised that it had significantly raised the quality of apprenticeships.
The opposition has also questioned the quantity and quality of apprenticeships for young people since 2010.
The government is also expected to issue a formal response to the Richard Review - which has looked at ways to improve the quality of apprenticeships - later this week.
The Department for Education said: "This government has significantly raised the quality of apprenticeships and introduced traineeships to ensure young people have the skills that employers need, and it is hugely encouraging that today's report recognises this.
