45126-Invest. Qual-No111

Investment in QualityLifelong LearningA well qualified workforce will contribute to Ireland’s productivitygrowth and competitiveness. Lifelong learning can contribute notonly to improved employment opportunities but also to personalfulfilment and enhanced societal well-being and increasing socialinclusion. Lifelong learning is important for Ireland’s economicdevelopment for at least two reasons. Firstly, given demographictrends it is necessary to encourage older workers to remain inworkforce. But many of them have low levels of formal educationalattainment. Secondly, there is an increasing need for all employeesto up-skill over the course of their career, given the pace oftechnical change and the need for flexibility within enterprise andbetween jobs.The Expert Working Group on Future Skills Needs published astudy on Labour Market Participation of the Over 55s in Ireland2002. It should be noted that most governments and manyemployers in EU and OECD countries are reversing the support,which they gave in the 1970s and 1980s, to promote early exit fromthe labour force and are formulating and pursuing policies toencourage greater labour force participation by people over 55.While the long term problem of an ageing workforce is less pressingin Ireland than in other developed countries, increased participationof the over 55s will be a key feature in meeting the demand forlabour when, as has been projected, Ireland returns to a tight labourmarket situation in the medium term. The National Economic andSocial Forum will shortly publish work on the issues facing workersaged over 45 in the Irish context.The European Commission produced a memorandum on LifelongLearning in December 2000 (European Commission, 2000b). Thememorandum emphasised the need to build an inclusive societywhich offers equal opportunities for access to quality learningthroughout life to all people, and in which education and trainingprovision is based first and foremost on the needs and demands ofindividuals. A consensus was established around four broad andmutually supporting objectives: personal fulfilment, activecitizenship, social inclusion and employability/adaptability.560