Research and analysis

Low-skilled adults are missing out on training: the skills gap

Adult training is often only available to workers who are highly paid or skilled with those with the lowest qualifications losing out on training.

• From: Social Mobility Commission
• Published: 29 January 2019

Documents

Adult skills gap and the falling investment in adults with low qualifications (HTML)

HTML

Adult skills gap and the falling investment in adults with low qualifications

PDF, 2.32 MB, 72 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email [email protected]. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

The report finds that:

• disadvantaged adults with the lowest qualifications are the least likely to access adult training despite being the group who would benefit most
• overall investment in adult skills from employers, government and individuals was around £44 billion in 2013 to 2014 - government funds just 7% of this training
• government funding for the Adult Skills Budget fell by £830 million (cash terms) between 2010 to 2011, and from £2.84 billion to £2.01 billion, equivalent to a 34% fall (real terms) between 2015 to 2016
• graduates are 3 times more likely to receive training than those with no qualifications, while professionals and managers are about twice as likely to receive training as lower-skilled workers

Published 29 January 2019