21 November 2025
Adult learning participation falling after post-pandemic boom
The Learning & Work Institute has published the results of its national Adult Participation in Learning survey, showing a marked reduction in participation following the post-pandemic rises.
The biggest drops in participation have been among those adults who are in work, with 50% of those in full-time work undertaking learning within the last three years – down from 65% a year earlier. Just 21% of those working are learning at work, with those earning the least having half the access of those earning most.
The report identifies the key factors in likelihood of adults to undertake learning as age, class, income and when they left full-time education, with a 20% difference between those leaving education at 16 and 18.
Cost is increasingly a factor, cited by 24% as a barrier, compared to 8% in 2019.
Read the Learning & Work Institute’s Adult Participation in Learning survey.
The biggest drops in participation have been among those adults who are in work, with 50% of those in full-time work undertaking learning within the last three years – down from 65% a year earlier. Just 21% of those working are learning at work, with those earning the least having half the access of those earning most.
The report identifies the key factors in likelihood of adults to undertake learning as age, class, income and when they left full-time education, with a 20% difference between those leaving education at 16 and 18.
Cost is increasingly a factor, cited by 24% as a barrier, compared to 8% in 2019.
Read the Learning & Work Institute’s Adult Participation in Learning survey.
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