Considering the digitalization of the workplace and increasingly crucial digital skill proficiency in the technology-rich labor market, the objectives of the present study are to develop digital skill use profiles and to identify specific individual characteristics that are linked with digital skill use patterns among older workers in the United…

Job automation can undermine economic security for workers in general, and older workers, in particular. In this respect, consistently updating one's knowledge and skills is essential for being competitive in a technology-driven labor market. Older workers with lower adult literacy skills experience difficulties with continuous education and…

This study examined how literacy skills and nativity status (foreign-born vs. U.S. born) are associated with motivation to learn (MtL). Nationally representative data (N = 8,670) of adults between the ages of 18 years old and older years were obtained from the 2012/2014 Program for International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC). Structural…

This study uses Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) data to examine latent profiles of engagement in reading, numeracy, writing, and computer skills-use for U.S. adults with low literacy skills. Additionally, we examine how these profiles relate to overall literacy performance and demographic heterogeneity.…

Research on factors associated with motivation to learn (MtL) is limited, particularly among middle-aged adults and immigrants. This study examines educational attainment, literacy skills, and nativity (foreign-born vs. native-born) as predictors of MtL in middle-aged adults living in the U.S. Nationally representative data of middle-aged adults…

Volunteering, STEM education and occupation, and information-processing skills such as literacy, numeracy, and digital problem-solving skills are important indicators of a nation's well-being as they represent civic engagement, economic development, and the human capital of the population. Although these critical social indicators have been…

This chapter discusses three main topics: (1) volunteer as a form of civic engagement, (2) Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), and (3) basic skills including literacy, numeracy and digital problem-solving skills. Volunteering, STEM background, and basic skills are important social and economic indicators of societies. Yet,…

The need for non-formal education (NFE), which does not result in a formal degree or certificate, is substantial as labour markets often require adult workers to take an initiative in advancing their job-related skills. Yet, NFE opportunities are more often pursued by high-income and high-skilled adults than their low-income and low-skilled…

A growing segment of the U.S. workforce -- older workers -- face challenges such as a greater chance of being unemployed for a longer period of time than younger workers and skill obsolescence in contemporary societies. In an age of fast-paced economic and technological change, ongoing investment in human capital in the form of skill training…

The objective of this study is to examine the associations between the motivation to learn, basic skills (i.e., literacy and numeracy), and organized adult education and training (AET) participation among the middle-aged and older adults in the USA. Rapid technological advancement and globalization necessitate individuals to engage in lifelong…

In this chapter, we discuss changes in the age structure of the labor force, the need for continued skill upgrading over the life course to remain employable, patterns of participation in adult learning and development activities, and the role community colleges play in providing education and training to middle-aged and older adults. In an…

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused one of the worst economic crises since the Great Depression. Although countries responded quickly to support displaced workers with assistance packages and funding for education and training, additional measures might be needed. Each country's economic recovery will most likely depend on how well its workforce is…

Despite increasing demand in distance education, relatively little is known about the demographic and socio-economic characteristics as well as basic skill levels of adult distance education participants at the national level in the U.S. This study analyzed the U.S. data from 2012/2014 and 2017 Program for International Assessment of Adult…