Recent Participation in Formal Learning Among Working-Age Adults with Different Levels of Education (NCES 2008-041)

This issue brief uses data from the 2001 and 2005 adult education surveys of the National Household Education Survey Program (NHES) to examine the participation of adults in formal learning activities during the 12 months preceding the survey, focusing on the participation of adults who at the end of the survey had the lowest levels of education (no high school diploma or a GED). These adults with low levels of education were found to have participated at relatively high rates in adult basic education, ESL, and GED classes. However, for the most common types of formal learning activities-work-related courses and personal interest courses-adults with low levels of education participated at lower rates and for shorter periods of time than did adults with higher levels of education.