The effects of Adult Education-Training Programs on the skills of Older Adults: a Cross-National Comparison

Abstract

Lifelong learning is increasingly important in order to compete in a knowledge-based global economy. Adult education and Training (AET) are two possible strategies to adjust the skills of the adult population to the needs of either the changing occupational structure and aging societies.
Nevertheless, despite the importance of AET, we are short of empirical evidence on the topic, particularly as regards the cross-national comparative research. In a way, as regards these studies the aim of this paper is to gain a better understanding of how AET can influence the level of skills in individuals. In view of this, data from Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) are used to investigate for four different countries –
Italy, France, UK and Sweden – the effect of different types of AET on the skills (literacy and numeracy) of adult individuals. The results show that, on average, AET participation increases skills levels, although with interesting differences between countries.