Adult skills and lifelong learning: Education Select Committee

Adult skills and lifelong learning benefit the whole population, from every conceivable background, income level and region. Inevitably those from lower socio-economic groups will benefit more.  

The range, balance and quality of lifelong learning in the accountancy sector is more than adequate. However, this is unlikely to be replicated across every sector. Indeed, AAT is particularly concerned about the lack of high quality, widely available digital skills offerings for adult learners.  

Upskilling and reskilling has a range of positive benefits for the individual, their employer and the wider economy. These benefits include increased earnings and well-being for the individual; increased productivity and thus increased competitiveness, lower costs and higher output for employers; and increased tax revenues and reduced state benefit payments for the benefit of the wider economy.

Internationally many other countries face similar problems to the UK, especially in the EU.  However, others, notably Singapore and South Korea, appear to be taking a more proactive, government-led approach to upskilling and reskilling their nations workforces.