Adults’ interest in learning is undimmed – but class inequalities mean three million lost learners

The UK’s longest-running survey of adult learning marks its 30th year with the finding that just 2 in 5 adults (43%) have engaged in learning in the last three years – a figure barely improved since 1996 (40%). Class, age, and levels of formal education are all drivers of whether adults learn, or do not, with stark and stubborn inequalities between groups.

The Adult Participation in Learning Survey 2026, published today at the start of Get the Nation Learning Week finds that people are 3% less likely to learn for every additional year of adult life, and ‘feeling too old’ is the most reported barrier to learning. The report authors, Learning and Work Institute (L&W), estimate that there would have been three million more working age adult learners over the past three years if class-based inequalities in participation were eliminated.

This matters. Shifts in our economy and society mean we need to update our skills more often, with megatrends like AI, net zero, and demographic change all having an impact. Too many people are also missing out on the benefits of adult learning can bring. Nine in ten current or recent learners (91%) report at least one benefit, such as employment prospects, personal development, confidence, health and wellbeing, and social connection. Unsurprisingly, 86% of current learners expect to learn again in the next three years.

Although the proportion of adults taking part in learning is roughly unchanged over the last 30 years, adult learning has been transformed over that period. A decade of austerity and declining employer investment reduced participation to a low of 33% in 2019. However, in the aftermath of the pandemic, adult learning moved increasing online and towards personal interest, with participation reaching a high of 52% in 2024, before settling back to 43% in 2026. Learning for leisure now accounts for nearly half (46%) of learners, compared with 20% in 2019. Online learning is also the norm, with almost one half of adult learners (48%) now studying entirely online.

The central lesson from 30 years of evidence is therefore that adults’ enthusiasm for learning remains strong, with technology opening new possibilities. However, governments and employers have too often failed to match people’s aspirations to take that learning further.

Stephen Evans, Chief Executive of Learning and Work Institute, said:

“In the last 30 years a technological revolution has transformed lifelong learning. Adults’ interest in learning is undimmed, and they have found new ways to learn, enabled by technology. But funding reductions by employers and governments have cut off opportunities to take this learning further and gain qualifications that can help with careers. And your likelihood of taking part in learning is still far too dependent on your class, your age and when you left school. This risks holding back people and our economy.

“Learning is ever more important for careers as people need to update their skills more often during longer working lives. We need to grasp the opportunity and make sure everyone can benefit from the lifelong learning revolution.”