More than half of the population participated in adult education and training

In 2000 more than one half of the population aged 18 to 64, or almost 1.8 million, participated in adult education, that is, education and training specifically intended and organised for adults. Almost three fifths of women took part in such education and training, while the proportion for men was slightly under one half. This difference in participation rates between men and women has stayed the same for the last twenty years.

Table 1. Participation in adult education and training in 1980, 1990, 1995
              and 2000 by gender (population aged 18 to 64)

Almost three fifths of persons aged 18 to 64 living in the Province of Southern Finland took part in education and training arranged for adults. Participants numbered a little over one half in the Provinces of Western Finland, Eastern Finland and Lapland, while the proportion of those participating was less than one half in the Province of Oulu. The differences in participation rates by province have grown since 1995.

Figure 1. Participation in adult education and training in 1995 and 2000
                by province of residence (population aged 18 to 64)

Province of:

Those with high basic education took most often part in adult education and training. In all, 37 per cent of those who had less than upper secondary education (lower than ISCED 3) participated in adult education and training during the year preceding the interview, while this was the case for over one half of those with an upper secondary degree and for three quarters of those with a tertiary degree. The differences in participation between those with basic education of different level have remained unchanged over the last five years.

The majority of adult education and training was organised by employers either at workplaces or some other suitable locations. In 2000 one third of the courses or other training events of those having participated in adult education were arranged by employers. Fifteen per cent of training events were organised in vocational schools or colleges, in adult education centres and in special educational enterprises providing training.

Table 2. Adult education and training in 2000 by provider,
               percentage of courses

To the start page