The nature of work is changing, with digital disruption requiring new skills to meet evolving business needs. As Australians spend more years in the labour market due to increasing lifespans, they can no longer rely solely on an education stint ending in their 20s, to prepare them fora long career filled with changing workforce requirements.
Employees’ approaches to learning therefore need to shift towards ongoing engagement with education and training institutions and other learning and development vehicles throughout their career. The adoption of a lifelong approach to learning will allow employees to better equip themselves with the skills needed for a changing labour market and the careers of the 21st century.
This report explores the importance of and benefits to, lifelong learning in an Australian workplace context, by examining the value of ongoing education and training for employees and businesses in professional industries.
The findings presented in this report have been informed by a survey of over 600 Australian businesses in professional industries about perceptions on lifelong learning, analysis of various data and research on employment and consultations with businesses (including NAB, REA Group and Aurecon) on the role of lifelong learning within their workforce.
