Half of adults learnt for leisure

Almost half of adults took part in learning for leisure in the last three years, the highest rate since in 1996, but the gap in participation between socio-economic groups remains stark, according to the Learning and Work Institute.

L&W has been tracking adult learning annually since 1996 and the results for 2023 show a record number of adults taking part. It says: “This historic high reflects increasing numbers of people learning for leisure since the pandemic, often online and independently,” with participation rising by eight percentage points compared with 2022.

L&W notes that individuals invest £7.3 billion a year and £55 billion worth of time in learning. This “contrasts with sharp falls in employer investment in training – down 26% per employee since 2005, and cuts in public spending on learning – down £1 billion in England compared to 2010.”

However, the class gap remains. And geographical disparities also persist, with London having the highest participation rate and the North East the lowest.