Basic remarks on the demand for lifelong learning

Certain key developments, including globalisation, population ageing and the diffusion of information technologies, are causing a shift in the demand for labour in modern advanced economies.

Demand is thought to be moving away from relatively low-skilled agricultural and production occupations in favour of highly-skilled professional, technical, administrative and managerial occupations.

Moreover, rising turnover in the labour market is tending to increase the rate at which existing skills are rendered obsolete. Hence workers in EU countries are coming under mounting pressure to adapt and enhance their skills on an ongoing basis; that is, today's workers must participate in lifelong learning, meaning all learning activity undertaken throughout life, which results in improving knowledge, know-how, skills, competences and/or qualifications for personal, social and/or professional reasons.

The European Commission has integrated its various educational and training initiatives under a single umbrella, the Lifelong Learning Programme, since 2007. The programme enables individuals at all stages of their lives to pursue stimulating learning opportunities across Europe. The Life Long Learning Programme (LLP) supports learning opportunities from childhood to old age in every single life situation

All Member States of the EU have expressed their commitment to building a learning society in which lifelong learning is seen as essential for economic growth, sustaining democracy and social cohesion.

This section offers additional information on:
1. Training needs
2. Basic aspects of an assessment of demand
3. Determination of further training needs
4. Implementation of a simplified workplace analysis
5. Creation and further development of working conditions conducive to learning
6. Competencies development objectives