The purpose of this article is two-fold. First, this article aimed to investigate the degree of differences in adult learners’ self-directed learning competencies and participation in lifelong learning(LLL), in particular job-related formal education(JRFE) and job-related non-formal education (JRNFE). Second, this article analyzed the relationship between differences in self-directed learning competencies and participation in LLL. For these purposes, this article conducted descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression analysis using OECD PIAAC data.
Especially, this article analyzed 16 OECD member countries that were selected on the basis of the availability of comparable variables and compared them with one another with a focus on Korea.
To summarize the findings, although there were differences in the extent of differences in self-directed learning competencies and participation in JRFE and JRNFE among individual adult learners, the differences were identified in all the target countries. In addition, in almost all countries, the greater self-directed learning competencies, the greater the likelihood of participation in LLL, in particular JRFE, appeared to become. For Korea, individual background characteristics appeared to play a key role in determining JRFE participation, while labor market-related factors, i.e., occupation by skill levels, the frequency in workplace learning participation, and the frequency of use of complex problem-solving skill, do the same for JRNFE participation.