Adult learning is a cornerstone of a thriving society, offering profound benefits that extend far beyond the classroom. It helps individuals secure meaningful employment, supports mental health and wellbeing, and fosters stronger social integration. As our population ages and the economy undergoes rapid transformation, the importance of continuous, lifelong learning will only grow.
For nearly 30 years, Learning and Work Institute (L&W) has published its annual Adult Participation in Learning Survey. As the longest-running survey of its kind, it stands as the definitive report on who is learning across the UK, how they are learning, and what motivates them. It adopts a broad definition of learning, including formal, non-formal and informal learning, rather than just publicly offered educational opportunities for adults.
In 2025, we specifically boosted our survey sample in Wales to 800 adults. This expanded dataset allows us to take a closer look at the unique successes and distinct challenges facing Welsh learners, offering an invaluable point of comparison with the rest of the UK.
The landscape of learning in Wales
The latest findings highlight positive news: adults in Wales are actively outperforming the UK average when it comes to picking up new skills. Nearly half (47%) of Welsh adults report participating in some form of learning over the past three years, compared to 42% across the UK as a whole.
However, this success story is not shared equally, and a stark learning divide persists. In fact, more than one in five Welsh adults (22%) have not taken part in any education or training since leaving full-time school. These inequalities, driven by social grade and employment status are wider in Wales than in the rest of the UK, with full-time employees twice as likely to learn as those who are economically inactive.
Explore the full set of findings from the Wales Adult Participation in Learning Survey 2025.
