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Adult learning 'beneficial' in tough job market

Published: Tuesday, 18 May 2010   Category: Postgraduate Study

Recent graduates have been informed that adult learning could offer skills that give them an advantage in a competitive job market.

The Workers' Educational Association (WEA) has revealed that a number of its students have enjoyed "life-changing experiences" through enrolling on postgraduate courses.

"People are becoming aware that securing a job will get increasingly harder as more and different skills are required," said a spokesman for the WEA.

"So, it's natural that people will see adult learning courses as one of the ways to gain the necessary skills."

Those comments come after the annual 'Adult Learners' Week' survey by the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education found that ongoing economic uncertainty is increasingly encouraging adults to go back into education.

The study found that the proportion of adults who are currently participating in further learning, or have done so in the past three years, has reached 43 per cent in 2010.

This is the highest level for ten years and compares to the 2009 figure of 39 per cent.

Last week, recent graduate Ella-Grace Kirton told the Yorker that Britons should not allow economic uncertainty to derail their attempts to secure their dream job.