The latest comparable (EU 28 vs Ireland) data is the annual average for 2018. The data for 2018 is provisional and there is no data available for 2019 at this point.
In quarter 3 2017, the CSO introduced a new Labour Force Survey (LFS) which replaced the Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS). This move involved a number of changes in how the survey is carried out, including, among others, the introduction of computer assisted telephone interviewing, a modernised questionnaire, updated population estimates from Census 2016, and revised sample allocation.
A break in series has occurred in the lifelong learning data following these modifications: as a result, it is not possible to accurately compare data for some variables before and after quarter 3 2017.
The following table shows the percentage rate for Ireland’s participation in adult lifelong learning for the years 2014 – 2018.
GEO/TIME
|
2014
|
2015
|
2016
|
2017
|
2018
|
EU 28
|
10.8
|
10.7
|
10.8
|
10.9
|
11.1
|
Ireland
|
7.0
|
6.5
|
6.5
|
9.0
|
12.8
|
Source: Eurostat (date extracted: 12.03.2019)
The target as the lifelong learning participation rate for 2025 is 18%.