Only one-third of the UK’s adult population is taking part in adult learning opportunities.
How is adult learning in the UK?
Over the past decade, the number of adults participating in adult learning has severely declined, reaching an all-time low. The impact of government budget cuts in various sectors and organizations are immensely affecting the economy.
The Learning and Work Institute have been tracking the economic impact of the decline in adult learning in the UK. According to their data, the number of adult learning participants have dropped by ten per cent since their last record in 2010, and it resulted in weaker economic growth in the UK.
That ten per cent was equivalent to around four million adults.
For the past three years, only a third of the adult population has taken part in adult learning. The lowest recorded participation since the organization started gathering data in 1996.
The Negative effect of government cuts
According to data, the steep governments in the field of education has caused a direct negative impact on the coverage of adult skills training schools.
With the implementation of austerity by the coalition government led by the Conservatives, government spending in skills-oriented training has been cut by almost half.
On the side of private companies, they have also cut their expenses on providing training for workers, way lower compared to advanced economies.
Economic growth in the UK has stalled for the past decade, recorded at an average of 0.3 per cent increase a year from an average of two per cent coming from a decade before the 2008 financial crisis.
The Government should realize the importance of skills training
Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised around four billion (3 billion pounds) dollars in funding to help adults enroll in skills training which are life-long learnings that will help them gain opportunities.
This funding will help level up the skill sets of our workers and hopefully improve the UK’s economy.
According to the Department of Education,
The Government is now investing in levelling up skills around the country. In 2018-2019 the investment helped over a million adults into work, further study, and apprenticeship.
