Participation of workers in education and training
Published: 11 December 2006
The Slovenian Institute for Adult Education (Andragoški center Republike Slovenije, SIAE [1]) has carried out several projects on adult literacy and adult participation in education programmes. The latest data on adult participation in education was collected in 2004 in the framework of the project entitled /Achieving strategic goals of adult education by 2010 – Studying patterns of adult participation in education/. The survey was conducted among a representative sample of the Slovenian population aged from 16 to 65 years.[1] http://siae.acs.si/
In 2004, some 10.2% of employees participated in formal education programmes and 38.8% participated in non-formal education and training. Apart from the age of employees and their level of education, the factors that influence access to formal and non-formal education and training programmes are occupation, sector of employment and type of employment contract. Establishment size does not seem to affect employee access to education and training.
The Slovenian Institute for Adult Education (Andragoški center Republike Slovenije, SIAE) has carried out several projects on adult literacy and adult participation in education programmes. The latest data on adult participation in education was collected in 2004 in the framework of the project entitled Achieving strategic goals of adult education by 2010 – Studying patterns of adult participation in education. The survey was conducted among a representative sample of the Slovenian population aged from 16 to 65 years.
Adult participation in education is defined as the participation of persons aged 16–65 years in one or more organised educational events lasting more than five hours per year, excluding regular education. Formal education of adults results in the awarding of formal diplomas or certificates, and normally is indicative of a higher level of education. Non-formal education comprises different organised education and training programmes that do not award formal diplomas and certificates, such as job-related education and vocational training, education for personal interests and similar programmes.
Level of adult participation in education
In 2004, according to the survey, only 37% of the adult population in Slovenia participated in any form of education or training in the preceding 12 months: slightly less than 8% of adults took part in formal educational programmes and more than 32% attended non-formal education and training programmes. About 20% of adults were potential participants: they did not participate in education in the last 12 months, but intended to pursue further education in the future, while 43% were inactive in terms of education and had no intention of attending courses in the future.
The strongest determinants for the participation of adults in formal and non-formal education are the level of previously attained education (the higher the level of attained education, the greater the participation in further education) and age (the proportion of participants decreases with age), closely followed by activity status of individuals. In terms of employment status, employees and unemployed people were most frequently attending formal education, while self-employed persons and farmers were most frequently involved in non-formal education and training (Table 1). In general, among participants in formal and non-formal education and training, the prevailing group is composed of persons aged 25 to 49 years, employed and with at least secondary level education.
| Activity status | Participation in formal education | Participation in non-formal education and training | No participation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employees | 10.2 | 38.8 | 54.6 |
| Self-employed people | 7.9 | 51.3 | 43.5 |
| Farmers | 0 | 57.4 | 42.6 |
| Unemployed people | 10.1 | 19.2 | 72 |
| Retirees | 0.8 | 11.6 | 87.9 |
| Housewives | 0 | 20.4 | 79.6 |
| Others | 12.5 | 12.5 | 75 |
Note: The overall sums for each activity status can amount to more than 100%, since individuals could participate both in formal and non-formal education.
Source: Novicke, Slovenian Institute for Adult Education, Summer 2006, p. 8
Employee participation in education and training
Non-formal education and training programmes are the prevailing type of employee involvement in education, representing 38.8% of employees compared with 10.2% of employees participating in formal education programmes. Important factors explaining employee access to formal and non-formal education and training are occupation (occupational group) of employee and sector of employment (type of organisational activity). Among occupational groups, employees in the armed forces and professionals participated most in formal education (20% and 18.5% respectively), while qualified agricultural workers, senior officials and professionals most often pursued non-formal education and training (77.8%, 68.5% and 65.7% respectively). Individuals in basic occupations and in manufacturing (machine operators) had the least access to formal (2.5% and 3% of participation) and to non-formal education and training (9.2% and 16.3% of participation): as many as 88.5% of employees performing basic occupations and 83.3% of machine operators did not follow any education or training courses in the 12 months preceding the survey in 2004.
The highest participation rates in formal education were found among employees in the wholesale and retail trade, finance, insurance and business services and also in public, social and personal services. Converserly, employees in the electricity sector, public, social and personal services, as well as in finance, insurance and other business services received most non-formal education and training. Employees in industry and in construction were the least involved in both formal and non-formal education and training.
A link also exists between the type of contract of employment – whether it represents a more or less stable job – and opportunities for formal and non-formal education and training (Table 2). Employees with less stable employment contracts more often participated in formal education, while employees in stable employment received more non-formal education and training.
| Participation in formal education | Participation in non-formal education and training | No participation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Permanent | 9.4 | 40.6 | 55.4 |
| Fixed-term | 11.5 | 53.5 | 60.4 |
| Other | 14.8 | 28.3 | 63.6 |
| Establishment size | |||
| 1000 or more employees | 12.3 | 46.6 | 47.4 |
| 500–999 employees | 7.1 | 36.6 | 59 |
| 200–499 employees | 11.6 | 35.6 | 60.6 |
| 100–199 employees | 5.9 | 43.6 | 54.1 |
| 20–99 employees | 12.5 | 43.5 | 50.6 |
| < 20 employees | 7.5 | 32.4 | 63.8 |
Note: The overall sums for each group of employees can amount to more than 100%, since individuals could participate both in formal and non-formal education.
Source: Novicke, Slovenian Institute for Adult Education, Summer 2006, p. 10
Although it is often assumed that employees in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have substantially less access to further education and training programmes than employees in larger establishments, the data did not confirm the expected pattern (Table 2). In fact, the educational level of employees and the sector of organisational activity seem to have a greater impact on employee participation in education and training than company size.
About the project
More information on the project can be found on the SIAE website, and some of the project results are available in the English editions of the institute’s information bulletin, ‘Novicke’– summer 2005 and summer 2006 issues.
Martina Trbanc, Organisational and Human Resources Research Centre (OHRC), University of Ljubljana
Eurofound recommends citing this publication in the following way.
Eurofound (2006), Participation of workers in education and training, article.
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