Britons Held Back From Learning, City & Guilds Survey Reveals

Britons want to learn but are too busy at work, have too many other commitments or lack sufficient childcare support, a MORI survey for City & Guilds has revealed.

The survey results, due to be unveiled at the City & Guilds National Conference today, found that although most (66%) are interested in learning, almost three quarters (74%) felt prevented from doing so. The biggest factor holding people back is time - pressures of work (25%) and other commitments (24%) are cited. Lack of childcare support (11%), and knowledge of what courses were available (11%) are also mentioned.

The survey found that a mere 7% of those interviewed are undertaking a learning activity and that only around one in ten (12%) see their employer as a source of information on learning. When asked what would motivate them to learn, the most common reason given is for fun, leisure or relaxation (42%).

According to Chris Humphries, Director General of City & Guilds, the results outline a desperate need to address the problem of reskilling our existing workforce: "This survey shows what we all suspected - firstly that not enough emphasis is being placed on learning in the workplace, secondly that we need a fundamental review of the way people learn."

"This is a top priority for British business. By 2010 there will upwards of two million additional jobs in the UK - most of which will have to be filled by the existing workforce and those jobs will typically require higher level skills than needed today. Unless employers can access the necessary skills to meet these needs, we will lose out to other, more competitive European economies."

The City & Guilds National Conference "Tackling the Skills Time Bomb" takes place on the 14th November at the IEE, Savoy Place, London.

Technical details

Interviews were carried out face-to-face as part of a MORI Omnibus survey of the general public in Great Britain, between 18th and 22nd October 2001. The questions were asked of 1,412 adults, excluding students and retired people. Results have been weighted to reflect the national population profile.

Other key findings of the survey were that:

• Over a third (37%) of working people are concerned about the prospect of learning new skills in the next 2-3 years to do their job well, but more than two-fifths (43%) are unconcerned
• The vast majority (80%) disagree with the statement, 'For me learning finished at school'
• Young people are more concerned about learning new skills to equip them for work (54% of 16-24 year olds, compared with 25% aged 55+)
• Men are more motivated to learn by promotion and work performance than women (20% compared with 12% of women, and 29%, compared with 22% of women, respectively)
• Women are more motivated to learn to gain qualifications and confidence (37%, compared with 31% of men, and 22%, compared with 13% of men, respectively)
• Interest in learning declines with age - 81% of 16-24 year olds are interested compared with only 41% of those aged 55 and over
• The unemployed are more likely to be interested in learning than those working or at home - 84% compared with 69% of full-time workers, 59% of part-time workers and 61% of the at-home category
• Nearly half of unemployed people (49%) are motivated to learn by the prospect of gaining a qualification

City & Guilds is the UK's leading awarding body for work-related, vocational qualifications. In total the organisation awards around 1 million certificates to learners each year in over 500 subjects ranging from creative studies to catering, management skills to manufacturing. The City & Guilds Group incorporates:

• City & Guilds
• Pitman Qualifications
• NEBS Management
• City & Guilds International