Adult Participation in Learning Survey 2024

The Adult Participation in Learning Survey provides unique insights into adult learning across the UK. It adopts a deliberately broad definition of learning, reflecting the fact that learning is about much more than formal courses and qualifications.

The 2024 survey shows just over one half (52%) of adults have taken part in learning in the last three years, the highest rate since the survey started in 1996. The increase in participation since the pandemic has been driven by a rise in self-directed learning, including online, and often for personal or leisure reasons. This is positive, but local and national government, employers and others need to make sure adults have routes to more formal learning and accreditation where they want to and where that would be of benefit to them.