Details
- Publication date
- 31 March 2020
- Author
- European Expert Network on Economics of Education (EENEE)
- Geographical scope
- European Union
- Level of education focus
- Adult education
- Thematic areas covered
- Educational effectiveness and efficiency
Description
Adult learning is increasingly vital for sustainable and inclusive growth, driven by megatrends like digitalisation, automation, ageing, and climate change. These changes are reshaping jobs and creating new skill demands, especially in sectors like healthcare and green industries.
Lifelong learning and regular upskilling are now essential to stay employable and competitive in dynamic labour markets. More frequent career changes and unstable job contracts require learning access independent of employment status.
Despite this urgency, adult participation in formal education remains low, averaging just 10.6% in the EU in 2018, well below the 15% target. Participation is especially low among low-qualified individuals, those in small firms, and the unemployed. However, when accounting for a broader timeframe and informal learning, adult learning rates rise significantly, highlighting the importance of recognising and supporting all forms of learning.
Author
Sara Baiocco
Cite as
Sara Baiocco, (2020). 'The state of play of evidence about the conditions under which individual-oriented instruments for incentivising adult participation in learning are effective', EENEE Ad hoc Report 4, 2019
