Adult Learner Motivations
Why might adults seek continuing education?
- The McGraw-Hill Research Foundation Links to an external site. reported nearly half the U.S. workforce today, approximately 52 million adults, has only a high school education or less, while 25 million workers aged 18 to 64 lack even a high school diploma or equivalent certification.
- A 2011 U.S. Census Bureau report Links to an external site.suggested education levels had more effect on earnings over a 40-year span in the workforce than any other demographic factor, such as gender, race and Hispanic origin.
- A 2014 U.S. Department of Education report on adult basic skills participation Links to an external site. suggested those who participate in adult education programs have higher future earnings as a result of participating, and their income are larger with more intensive participation. 100 hours or more of attendance were found to equate to extra earnings of $9,621 per year, in 2013 dollars.
What might adult learners want (or not want)?
It may be easy to assume that all adult learners are engaging with the adult basic education process for the same reason (to pass a high school equivalency exam), but this may only be part of the picture. Consider the following:
- Some learners may be intrinsically motivated and truly interested in learning the topic for its own sake.
- Some learners may be solely extrinsically motivated and only going through the adult basic education experience because it is “required” for them to do something else.