The impact of learning on unemployed, low-qualified adults: A systematic review
Research Report No. 375
by Sally Dench, Jim Hillage and Pam Coare
There is a large literature exploring the effect of education and qualifications on employment and earnings. This shows that higher level skills and qualifications obtained at the 'usual time' lead to better employment and higher earnings. However, the research provides a less clear picture of the returns to adult learning, especially for low-qualified adults. Despite this gap in evidence, there is along tradition of providing and subsidising education and training for out-of-work, low-qualified adults in England.
This systematic review was commissioned to find literature that might fill this gap in evidence. A review question was defined:
What is the impact of learning on employment outcomes for low-qualified adults who are out-of-work or at risk of losing their job?
A literature search was conducted using stated definitions, criteria and sources, and a process was gone through to select only those studies that provided evidence directly relating to the review question.
This report examines the evidence that emerged from this systematic review as well as describing the process of conducting the review.
August 2006
ISBN 1 84712 058 X
