Perceptions on adult learning and continuing vocational education and training in Europe : chapter 2 : perceptions : importance, second opinion survey. Volume 1, Member States.
Date: 2020-12-25
Institutions: Cedefop
Subjects: EU Member State, change of job, education policy, job access, vocational education, vocational training

Chapter 2. PERCEPTIONS: IMPORTANCE

Perceptions on adult 
learning and continuing 
vocational education 
and training in Europe
Volume 1: Second opinion survey
MEMBER STATES

You can download  
the full report at:
www.cedefop.europa.eu/en/ 
publications-and-resources/ 
publications/3086

/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /

Please cite this chapter as:
Cedefop (2020). Chapter 2: Perceptions: importance. In: Cedefop,  Perceptions 
on adult learning and continuing vocational education and training in Europe:  
Second opinion survey: Member States. Vol. 1. Luxembourg: Publications 
Office. Cedefop reference series; No 117, pp. 20-32.  
http://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2801/465812 

© European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop), 2020. 
    Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International

ISBN: 978-92-896-3075-7 
doi:10.2801/465812   
TI-02-20-741-EN-N

CHAPTER 2. 

Perceptions: importance

The  survey  shows  that  adult  learning  and  continuing  vocational  education 
and training (CVET) have a positive image. They are regarded as important 
for work and life in all Member States.

This  chapter  discusses  the  extent  to  which  Member  States  see  adult 
learning and CVET as important and the reasons why people take part in them. 
Section 4.3, in the context of access, considers why adults do not participate 
in adult learning and CVET and what measures may encourage them to do so.
In  all  Member  States,  respondents  are  convinced  of  the  importance  of 
learning throughout life. They anticipate adult learning and CVET becoming 
more  important  over  the  next  10  years  and  there  is  strong  support  in  all 
countries for governments to prioritise investment in adult learning and CVET.
People have various reasons for taking part in adult learning and CVET 
but  the  main  ones,  in  all  Member  States,  are  personal  development  and 
to  improve  job  skills.  These  reasons  apply  to  organised  formal  and  non-
formal learning as well as to informal learning done on one’s own. Although 
personal development is the main reason people take part in adult learning 
and  CVET,  many  emphasise  the  importance  of  job-related  learning.  In  all 
Member States, to varying degrees, respondents say that skill needs in their 
jobs are changing constantly and that they lack technical and general skills.

2.1.  Value 

Almost all respondents (96%) agree that continuing to learn throughout life 
is important (Figure 1). At least 90% of respondents agree in every country, 
except Latvia (88%) and the Netherlands (89%). 

There is also a clear expectation that adult learning and CVET will become 
more  important  in  enabling  people  to  progress  in  their  careers  (Figure  2). 
Overall,  84%  of  respondents  (39%  say  definitely;  45%  probably)  say  that 
adult learning and CVET will be more important for career progression in 10 
years’ time. More than half of respondents say that it will ‘definitely’ be more 
important in Malta (68%), Cyprus (54%) and Ireland (53%). 

Perceptions: importance

21

Figure 1.   Importance: learning throughout life is important, country 

(EU-28, Iceland and Norway)

Q0905 - Learning throughout life is an important value (%)

SE

EL

NO

CY

PT

MT

ES

SI

IT

DK

DE

IE

UK

FR

BG

EU

AT

IS

BE

LU

RO

HR

FI

LT

PL

CZ

HU

NL

SK

EE

LV

93

92

90

90

88

87

86

84

82

82

81

81

80

80

78

78

78

76

76

76

74

70

69

68

66

65

63

62

61

59

56

13

16

16

16

17

17

18

6

6

8

9

7

2

1

11

12

1

2

2

1

1

11

3 2

2 1

4

2 2

2

2 1

2

4

3 3 1

4 1

6

7

2

2

7

4

7

2 1

5

2

1

8

4

16

18

17

22

20

21

22

27

26

25

29

28

28

26

29

33

32

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

  Totally agree 

  Tend to agree 

  Tend to disagree 

  Totally disagree 

  No answer

Source:  Cedefop opinion survey on adult learning and CVET.

 
22

Perceptions on adult learning and continuing vocational education and training in Europe 

Figure 2.   Importance: adult learning and career progression, country 

(EU-28, Iceland and Norway)

Q1500 - Adult learning will be more important in ten years (%)

68

25

3

3

26

10

5

6

MT

CY

IE

LU

RO

SE

FI

BG

HU

EL

IS

AT

LT

UK

DE

PL

SI

EU

ES

FR

BE

CZ

NL

NO

EE

LV

HR

PT

SK

DK

IT

54

53

49

48

47

46

46

46

46

46

45

44

44

42

41

40

39

39

38

38

38

35

35

34

32

30

30

28

28

27

41

44

44

40

46

39

40

36

44

46

46

39

44

46

44

45

48

35

44

47

52

52

48

53

45

46

44

47

53

3 1

5

2

4 1 3

8

2 3

6

3

6

4

3

4

3

4

2 3

4

4

6

1 2

6

1 3

2 3

2 3

4

3

3 3

8

9

11

8

10

8

9

10

8

3 2

11

3

4

11

2 2

21

3

4

11

9

2

1 3

6

1

11

11

2 2

5

7

5

3

3

5

13

3 3

5

5

100%

16

14

18

16

80%

0%

20%

40%

60%

  Yes, definitely 

  Yes, probably 

  No, not really 

  Not at all 

  No answer

Source:  Cedefop opinion survey on adult learning and CVET.

Perceptions: importance

23

The  highest  proportions  of  respondents  who  are  not  convinced  of  the 
increasing  importance  of  adult  learning  and  CVET  are  in  Czechia  (24%), 
Slovakia (23%), Croatia, Italy and Portugal (all 21%). 

Some 89% of respondents ‘totally agree’ or ‘agree’ (55% totally agree; 34% 
agree) that governments should prioritise investment in learning for adults (Figure 
3). In every country, at least two-thirds of respondents agree their government 
should prioritise investment in learning for adults. The highest numbers of those 
who ‘totally agree’ are in Malta (79%), Romania (75%), Greece and Cyprus (both 
72%). Respondents in Iceland (27%) and Estonia (24%) are most likely to disagree. 

2.2.  Why adults learn

Across the EU-28 Member States, given the option of multiple answers, the two 
most common reasons respondents gave for taking part in organised training 
(Table 1) are personal development (66%) and to improve job skills (64%). 

Respondents  also  mention  improving  basic  skills  (34%)  and  computer 
skills (20%). Sometimes respondents link improving job skills with specific 
work-related  reasons  such  as  promotion  or  better  pay  (16%),  a  new  or 
different  job  (14%)  or  to  set  up  a  business  (6%).  Some  22%  participated 
because the training was mandatory.

Respondents  in  Czechia  (83%)  are  most  likely  to  give  personal 
development as the main reason for taking part in organised training, followed 
by Belgium (81%), Germany (77%) and the UK (75%). Improving job skills 
is the main reason given in Luxembourg, Iceland (both 75%), France (67%) 
and  Bulgaria  (65%).  Improving  basic  skills  is  important  in  Belgium  (53%), 
Denmark (52%), Iceland (50%), Austria (48%) and Luxembourg (47%). 

A  relatively  high  proportion  of  respondents  participated  in  organised 
training  activities  in  the  UK  (33%,  compared  to  the  European  average  of 
22%) and Norway (28%) because it was mandatory. Greece (7%) has fewest 
respondents  saying  that  they  participated  in  an  organised  training  activity 
because it was mandatory. 

When given the option of multiple answers, personal development (81%) 
was also the most common reason respondents in the EU-28 Member States 
gave  for  participating  in  informal  learning  (learning  on  their  own),  followed 
by improving job skills (49%), basic skills (35%) and computer skills (21%) 
(Table 2). Most respondents gave personal development as the main reason 
in  every  country,  notably  in  Czechia  (91%),  Belgium  (89%),  Luxembourg 
(88%) and Germany and the Netherlands (both 87%). 

 
24

Perceptions on adult learning and continuing vocational education and training in Europe 

Table 1.   Importance: reasons for taking part in organised training, 

country (EU-28, Iceland and Norway)

Q1811 
Q1821

EU-28

BE

BG

CZ

DK

DE

EE

IE

EL

ES

FR

HR

IT

CY

LV

LT

LU

HU

MT

NL

AT

PL

PT

RO

SI

SK

FI

SE

UK

IS

NO

For personal 
development (12)

To improve your 
job skills (11)

To improve your 
basic skills (13)

It was mandatory 
(18)

To improve your 

To get promotion or 

computer skills (14)

better pay (15)

To get a new or 

different job (16)

To set up  

a business (17)

66

81

53

83

55

77

48

70

60

68

59

55

51

45

55

49

69

51

41

70

73

65

62

42

67

44

62

63

75

64

51

64

70

65

75

69

76

60

68

57

58

67

49

49

45

61

48

75

60

43

68

72

61

72

70

51

44

62

61

63

75

56

34

53

30

34

52

42

14

41

28

43

32

25

23

30

26

12

47

19

31

28

48

24

41

27

38

18

19

29

34

50

37

22

21

14

20

29

19

13

31

7

14

24

20

21

16

19

20

27

26

17

26

15

18

15

17

22

26

16

23

33

21

28

20

30

18

29

9

24

7

28

20

28

20

19

9

12

14

8

27

11

14

13

23

19

24

31

20

14

14

12

17

27

13

16

15

21

22

11

23

6

24

10

11

12

14

3

9

15

8

18

14

20

13

23

21

13

22

18

13

6

12

21

15

9

14

16

11

19

15

16

7

16

13

16

14

12

6

9

13

5

14

10

11

15

15

12

10

12

11

11

14

9

18

11

11

6

6

6

5

4

7

2

7

5

6

6

7

2

4

7

3

8

5

2

4

4

2

8

4

4

3

2

8

5

5

11

Source:  Cedefop opinion survey on adult learning and CVET.

Perceptions: importance

25

For personal 

development (12)

To improve your 

job skills (11)

To improve your 

basic skills (13)

It was mandatory 

(18)

To improve your 
computer skills (14)

To get promotion or 
better pay (15)

To get a new or 
different job (16)

To set up  
a business (17)

20

30

18

29

9

24

7

28

20

28

20

19

9

12

14

8

27

11

14

13

23

19

24

31

20

14

14

12

17

27

13

16

15

21

22

11

23

6

24

10

11

12

14

3

9

15

8

18

14

20

13

23

21

13

22

18

13

6

12

21

15

9

14

16

11

19

15

16

7

16

13

16

14

12

6

9

13

5

14

10

11

15

15

12

10

12

11

11

14

9

18

11

11

6

6

6

5

4

7

2

7

5

6

6

7

2

4

7

3

8

5

2

4

11

4

2

8

4

4

3

2

8

5

5

Q1811 

Q1821

EU-28

BE

BG

CZ

DK

DE

EE

IE

EL

ES

FR

HR

IT

CY

LV

LT

LU

HU

MT

NL

AT

PL

PT

RO

SI

SK

FI

SE

UK

IS

NO

66

81

53

83

55

77

48

70

60

68

59

55

51

45

55

49

69

51

41

70

73

65

62

42

67

44

62

63

75

64

51

64

70

65

75

69

76

60

68

57

58

67

49

49

45

61

48

75

60

43

68

72

61

72

70

51

44

62

61

63

75

56

34

53

30

34

52

42

14

41

28

43

32

25

23

30

26

12

47

19

31

28

48

24

41

27

38

18

19

29

34

50

37

22

21

14

20

29

19

13

31

7

14

24

20

21

16

19

20

27

26

17

26

15

18

15

17

22

26

16

23

33

21

28

 
26

Perceptions on adult learning and continuing vocational education and training in Europe 

Table 2.   Importance: reasons for taking part in informal training, 

country (EU-28, Iceland and Norway)

Q1851 
Q1860

EU-28

BE

BG

CZ

DK

DE

EE

IE

EL

ES

FR

HR

IT

CY

LV

LT

LU

HU

MT

NL

AT

PL

PT

RO

SI

SK

FI

SE

UK

IS

NO

For personal 
development (02)

To improve your job 
skills (01)

To improve your basic 
skills (03)

To improve your 

computer skills (04)

To get a promotion 

or better pay (05)

To get a new or 

different job (06)

To set up  

a business (07)

81

89

74

91

68

87

72

83

76

80

83

73

72

53

75

74

88

76

51

87

77

82

74

61

79

66

78

82

85

77

65

49

53

45

61

55

59

44

52

43

45

48

43

29

42

46

38

52

38

32

53

58

47

62

60

44

39

48

43

46

67

46

35

47

28

40

55

44

13

36

26

44

34

26

24

27

24

9

51

23

33

30

50

26

43

31

39

25

29

31

33

55

42

21

32

18

29

13

26

9

27

18

29

21

17

8

16

15

7

29

15

10

17

23

20

24

33

23

17

15

14

16

27

18

11

10

13

17

8

14

5

16

8

9

8

1

9

12

10

6

14

9

12

9

13

15

10

15

12

9

4

8

9

5

16

11

13

8

16

11

12

6

14

10

14

11

9

4

7

10

6

12

7

8

11

10

10

10

12

10

10

14

6

16

10

8

11

10

10

6

8

4

5

6

5

5

5

6

7

2

6

7

6

6

3

1

6

5

4

8

5

5

3

3

9

6

7

Source:  Cedefop opinion survey on adult learning and CVET.

Perceptions: importance

27

For personal 

development (02)

To improve your job 

To improve your basic 

skills (01)

skills (03)

To improve your 
computer skills (04)

To get a promotion 
or better pay (05)

To get a new or 
different job (06)

To set up  
a business (07)

21

32

18

29

13

26

9

27

18

29

21

17

8

16

15

7

29

15

10

17

23

20

24

33

23

17

15

14

16

27

18

11

10

13

17

8

14

5

16

8

9

8

12

1

9

10

6

14

9

12

9

13

15

10

15

12

9

4

8

16

9

5

11

13

8

16

11

12

6

14

10

14

11

9

4

7

10

6

12

7

8

11

10

10

10

12

10

10

14

6

16

10

8

6

8

4

5

6

5

5

11

5

6

7

10

2

6

7

6

6

3

1

6

10

5

4

8

5

5

3

3

9

6

7

Q1851 

Q1860

EU-28

BE

BG

CZ

DK

DE

EE

IE

EL

ES

FR

HR

IT

CY

LV

LT

LU

HU

MT

NL

AT

PL

PT

RO

SI

SK

FI

SE

UK

IS

NO

81

89

74

91

68

87

72

83

76

80

83

73

72

53

75

74

88

76

51

87

77

82

74

61

79

66

78

82

85

77

65

49

53

45

61

55

59

44

52

43

45

48

43

29

42

46

38

52

38

32

53

58

47

62

60

44

39

48

43

46

67

46

35

47

28

40

55

44

13

36

26

44

34

26

24

27

24

9

51

23

33

30

50

26

43

31

39

25

29

31

33

55

42

 
28

Perceptions on adult learning and continuing vocational education and training in Europe 

Figure 3.   Importance: governments should prioritise investment in 

adult learning and CVET, country (EU-28, Iceland and Norway)

Q0907 - The government should prioritise investment in adult learning (%)

MT

RO

CY

EL

PT

ES

IE

DE

AT

SE

BG

NO

EU

LT

UK

HU

DK

HR

FR

SK

IT

BE

CZ

NL

LV

SI

PL

LU

FI

EE

IS

79

75

72

72

67

66

62

60

60

59

57

57

55

55

55

53

53

52

52

48

47

47

47

47

46

46

45

44

38

28

22

46

42

46

0%

20%

40%

60%

17

21

19

20

24

26

31

31

33

32

29

33

34

33

34

37

38

37

37

39

39

40

40

42

39

40

40

45

2 1

2

4

2 2

4

3 1

5

2 2

5

2 1

4 2

6

2

4 2 1

6

1 2

7

4

3

5

7

1 4

2 2

6

3 3

6

2 4

2 2

2 2

3 1

2 2

2 2

3 1

3 1

2 2

2 1

2 2

4 1

2 3

6

6

6

7

9

9

9

10

8

10

9

9

11

7

2 2

4

6

5

100%

4

3

20

24

80%

  Totally agree 

  Tend to agree 

  Tend to disagree 

  Totally disagree 

  No answer

Source:  Cedefop opinion survey on adult learning and CVET.

Perceptions: importance

29

Respondents in Iceland (67%) are most likely to say that they took part in 
learning on their own to improve their job skills, followed by Portugal (62%), 
Czechia (61%) and Romania (60%). Less than a third of respondents give 
this reason in Italy (29%) and Malta (32%).  

At least half of respondents took part in learning on their own to improve 
their basic skills in Denmark and Iceland (both 55%), Luxembourg (51%) and 
Austria  (50%).  In  contrast,  few  respondents  in  Lithuania  (9%)  and  Estonia 
(13%) give this reason. 

2.2.1.  Changing needs: job-related skills
Although  personal  development  is  the  main  reason  for  taking  part  in 
organised learning and learning on one’s own, the survey also gives insights 
into the importance of job-related learning to keep skills up to date (Figure 4). 
Significantly, 88% of all respondents who were in work at the time of the 
survey agree that their job requires them to keep their skills constantly up to 
date, including 63% who totally agree. 

Respondents in Sweden and Norway (both 80%) are most likely to totally 
agree that their job requires them to keep their skills constantly up to date, 
followed by Czechia and Malta (both 73%), Slovenia (72%), Hungary (71%) 
and Germany and Estonia (both 70%). The highest level of disagreement is 
in Cyprus (18%) and Estonia and Slovakia (both 17%). Further, 28% of all 
respondents in work agree that they lack some technical skills to carry out 
their job at the required level, including 9% who totally agree (Figure 5). 

Portugal is the only country where respondents are more likely to agree 
(51%) than disagree (47%) that they lack some technical skills to carry out 
their job. However, a significant proportion of respondents agree that they 
lack  required  technical  skills  in  Greece  (47%),  Cyprus  (46%),  Luxembourg 
(45%), Romania (43%) and Bulgaria (42%). 

In contrast, most respondents disagree that they lack required technical 

skills in Italy (92%), Iceland (88%), Finland (85%) and Slovenia (84%). 

Some 22% of respondents in work agree that they lack some general skills to 
carry out their job at the required level, including 8% who totally agree (Figure 6). 
Portugal is again the only country where respondents are more likely to 
agree (52%) than disagree (47%) that they lack general skills, followed by 
Spain (43%), Cyprus and Luxembourg (both 40%). 

Respondents are most likely to disagree that they lack required general skills 
in Finland (91%), Iceland (91%), Italy (88%), Germany (84%), Poland (82%) and 
Norway and Sweden (both 81%). 

 
30

Perceptions on adult learning and continuing vocational education and training in Europe 

Figure 4.   Importance: job requirements - keeping skills up to date, 

country (EU-28, Iceland and Norway)

Q2201 - Your job requires you to keep your skills constantly up to date (%)

SE

NO

MT

CZ

SI

HU

EE

DE

FI

PT

EL

AT

BG

LU

EU

DK

UK

IE

CY

PL

FR

ES

IT

LT

BE

NL

LV

HR

RO

SK

IS

0%

43

20%

80

80

74

74

72

71

70

70

69

68

67

65

64

64

63

63

63

63

62

62

61

60

59

59

55

54

54

54

53

51

14

14

3 2

4 2

2

6

5

5

7

4 1

4

3 1

5 1

2

2

5

9

8

7

8

9

1

8

5

4 2

7

7

7

6

4

3

4 1

4

18

21

19

20

23

21

23

16

17

25

22

30

25

26

25

27

18

9

9

1

28

29

22

25

27

31

34

30

31

31

30

42

10

8

6

2

3

7

8

6

5

3

5

4

9

6

9

11

11

8

7

11

6

6

2

2

2

12

40%

60%

80%

100%

  Totally agree 

  Tend to agree 

  Tend to disagree 

  Totally disagree 

  No answer

Source:  Cedefop opinion survey on adult learning and CVET.

Perceptions: importance

31

Figure 5.   Importance: lack of technical skills, country  

(EU-28, Iceland and Norway)

Q2203 - You feel you lack some technical skills to carry out your job at the required level (%)

EL

PT

CY

LU

ES

HU

RO

BG

IE

FR

MT

UK

EU

LT

BE

HR

LV

CZ

DE

AT

NL

SK

PL

DK

EE

SE

NO

SI

FI

IT

IS

23

23

20

19

24

28

26

26

14

17

18

26

15

14

14

13

11

11

11

9

9

9

9

8

8

7

7

7

7

6

6

6

6

5

4

3

2

2

12

13

6

10

22

24

29

28

25

27

13

11

16

19

20

24

30

25

20

18

15

17

21

23

30

16

19

17

27

17

21

18

24

33

23

28

26

19

20

31

31

62

29

29

21

33

34

35

39

32

41

36

32

36

26

58

58

61

55

66

69

38

35

29

28

34

33

36

37

33

30

44

42

45

38

27

32

33

42

37

39

38

34

37

50

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

  Totally agree 

  Tend to agree 

  Tend to disagree 

  Totally disagree 

  No answer

Source:  Cedefop opinion survey on adult learning and CVET.

2

1

3

2

1

1

4

2

1

2

1

100%

 
32

Perceptions on adult learning and continuing vocational education and training in Europe 

Figure 6.   Importance: lack of general skills, country  

(EU-28, Iceland and Norway)

Q2204 - You feel you lack some general skills to carry out your job at the required level (%)

26

26

24

21

24

25

23

23

19

27

14

19

26

21

29

PT

ES

EL

CY

LU

RO

HU

IE

BG

BE

FR

MT

UK

EU

AT

LT

HR

DK

SK

NL

NO

CZ

LV

DE

SI

PL

EE

SE

IT

IS

FI

19

17

16

15

12

12

11

10

10

9

9

9

15

19

17

19

15

12

15

12

25

21

16

19

14

12

15

22

18

12

14

14

15

17

20

31

22

20%

8

8

8

8

7

7

7

6

6

5

5

4

4

4

3

3

1

0%

8

7

8

28

23

33

32

20

33

33

39

38

29

36

29

34

40

12

27

22

32

18

28

28

29

47

39

31

42

35

45

47

40

38

47

44

46

47

39

45

38

39

35

60

51

59

51

59

42

51

64

68

69

60

1

1

1

2

2

1

1

1

3

2

3

2

2

40%

60%

80%

100%

  Totally agree 

  Tend to agree 

  Tend to disagree 

  Totally disagree 

  No answer

Source:  Cedefop opinion survey on adult learning and CVET.