Fostering greater participation in lifelong learning in and outside the workplace in Ireland

Abstract

Across countries, there is a growing need for people to upskill and reskill regularly over their life course so they can adapt to developments in the labour market and society. Lifelong learning results in a wide range of benefits, including higher wages for individuals, higher productivity for firms and higher levels of social trust. This chapter explains the importance of fostering greater participation in lifelong learning in and outside the workplace in Ireland and provides an overview of current practices and performance. It then explores three opportunities to improve participation in lifelong learning: 1) strengthening incentives to participate in lifelong learning for individuals; 2) strengthening incentives to participate in lifelong learning for employers; and 3) making lifelong learning more flexible and accessible.