Adults in Training: An International Comparison of Continuing Education and Training.

Data from the International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS) were analyzed to compare the incidence and volume of continuing education (CE) and training among adults in the following countries: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The following were among the key findings of the analysis: (1) in all 10 countries, employed adults are more likely than unemployed adults to participate in CE or training; (2) participation in job-related training is substantially higher than participation in education and training undertaken for personal or other reasons; (3) participation rates do not differ substantially by gender; (4) participation rates are higher among adults who already possess higher-level educational qualifications; (5) younger adults are more likely than their older counterparts to participate in CE or training; (6) individuals working in large firms and organizations are more likely to participate in CE; and (7) in all countries studied, employers were by far the most common financial sponsors of all training and job-related training in particular. (Appended are a table detailing enrollments in education and training courses by selected populations and a table detailing responses to the IALS by target populations in the 10 study countries.) (MN)