Collection

Future of skills and lifelong learning

Foresight project exploring the future of skills and lifelong learning in a changing world.

• From: Government Office for Science
• Published: 11 May 2016
• Last updated: 27 November 2017 — See all updates

The Government Office for Science looked at how changes in technology and an ageing population affect what skills the UK will need in the future. The project also considered how investment in skills and encouraging lifelong learning can have a positive impact on productivity.

This project provides policy-makers with evidence on the current and future state of skills and lifelong learning in the UK. The evidence base covers the following areas:

• the current skills system and how this might change in the future
• the growing importance of digital skills training
• the critical factors that influence learning across a lifetime
• the value of informal learning and how it is recognised
• best practice for collecting and sharing information about workers’ skills and the demand for them
• the economic return from investing in education

The project identified 5 main issues:

• young adults have lower levels of numeracy and literacy in the UK than in other advanced countries
• employers report that people leaving education are not work-ready
• people with skills frequently do not use these skills
• certain regions and sectors have a low supply of and demand for skills, leading to low productivity and slow growth
• people are less likely to participate in learning as they age

Read more about this project on the Foresight projects blog.

Project report

• Future of skills and lifelong learning
  • 20 July 2018
  • Research and analysis

Evidence reviews

The project is informed by a number of independent evidence reviews, developed by experts from across academia and industry, and peer reviewed by independent academics. These papers provide analysis of the future issues facing the UK skills system.

• Skills and lifelong learning: the benefits of adult learning
  • 15 August 2017
  • Research and analysis
• Skills and lifelong learning: digital participation
  • 15 August 2017
  • Research and analysis
• Skills and lifelong learning: meeting digital skills demand
  • 1 August 2017
  • Research and analysis
• Skills and lifelong learning: digital skills in further education
  • 1 August 2017
  • Research and analysis
• Skills and lifelong learning: adult basic skills levels
  • 18 July 2017
  • Research and analysis
• Skills and lifelong learning: attitudes towards learning
  • 15 March 2017
  • Research and analysis
• Skills and lifelong learning: motivating engagement in learning
  • 9 February 2017
  • Research and analysis
• Skills and lifelong learning: informal learning in the family and community
  • 8 February 2017
  • Research and analysis
• Skills and lifelong learning: learning across the lifetime
  • 8 February 2017
  • Research and analysis
• Skills and lifelong learning: learning in the workplace
  • 8 February 2017
  • Research and analysis
• Skills and lifelong learning: skills demand and mismatch
  • 12 December 2016
  • Research and analysis
• Skills and lifelong learning: public policy and skills demand
  • 12 December 2016
  • Research and analysis
• Skills and lifelong learning: gaps in training provision
  • 12 December 2016
  • Research and analysis
• Skills and lifelong learning: employer views and public policy
  • 12 December 2016
  • Research and analysis
• Skills and lifelong learning: UK's current and future skills mix
  • 12 December 2016
  • Research and analysis

Essays

The project is also informed by a number of independent essays, developed by important thinkers at the forefront of skills and lifelong learning research.

• Skills and lifelong learning: cost of skills underutilisation
  • 1 August 2017
  • Research and analysis
• Skills and lifelong learning: labour market anticipation
  • 7 July 2017
  • Research and analysis
• Skills and lifelong learning: investment in skills
  • 29 August 2017
  • Research and analysis
• Skills and lifelong learning: economic returns to education
  • 23 February 2017
  • Research and analysis
• Skills and lifelong learning: low skills traps
  • 23 February 2017
  • Research and analysis

Workshop reports

• Skills and lifelong learning: learning in the digital age
  • 14 July 2017
  • Research and analysis

Announcements

• New Foresight project to explore lifelong learning
  • 11 May 2016
  • News story

Published 11 May 2016
Last updated 27 November 2017 + show all updates

1. 27 November 2017

   Final project report published - 'Future of skills and lifelong learning'.

2. 15 August 2017

   Added 2 new evidence reviews on the benefits of adult learning and digital participation.

3. 1 August 2017

   Added 2 evidence reviews on digital skills and an essay on the cost of skills underutilisation.

4. 18 July 2017

   Added an evidence review on adult basic skills levels.

5. 14 July 2017

   Added a workshop report on learning in the digital age.

6. 7 July 2017

   Added essay on labour market anticipation.

7. 15 March 2017

   Added evidence review on attitudes towards learning.

8. 23 February 2017

   Added 3 essays on investment in skills, economic returns to education and low skills traps.

9. 9 February 2017

   Added the evidence review: 'Skills and lifelong learning: motivating engagement in learning'.

10. 8 February 2017

    Added the following evidence reviews: Informal learning in the family and community; Learning across the lifetime; and Learning in the workplace.

11. 12 December 2016

    Updated the main project text to reflect the current status of the project, and to add a link to the Foresight Projects blog. Published five new evidence reviews.

12. 11 May 2016

    First published.