Adult learners fearful of new workplace tech: Pearson
Workers' fears over being outsourced or replaced by younger or immigrant labour are giving way to fears over keeping pace with technology, according to the results of Pearson's first Adult Learners survey. In a poll of 1,634 US participants aged 25-64, 72% of the respondents said they needed additional education to keep up with advancement in their field whilst 69% worried their job would be significantly changed by technology in the next five years. However, 80% said the cost of returning to education was a major concern, and a similar number said that time was an issue.

Dive Brief:

Pearson has released a survey showing the growing fear among adult learners who plan on or are currently enrolled in degree or credentialing programs about new trends in technology and labor.

72% of survey respondents say education will help them to keep pace with changes in their industry, with more than 65% of workers say technology will make their jobs dramatically different within 5 years.

There is diminishing concern about outsourcing and being replaced by younger employees, but the new industrial changes are leading more than 60% of employees to enroll in online courses, while just 27% take classes in traditional settings.

Dive Insight:

Convenience is the new imperative for higher education, and with the influx of adult learners and younger learners seeking more flexible learning options to balance work and technological expectations, it is up to college leaders to create the engagement opportunities with corporations to offer employees credentialing benefits.

These pathways are critical not only to sustaining revenue and promotional and partnership opportunities, but more importantly, gaining with the federal government, which is looking to fund and support educational and professional connections which lead to job placement and loan debt repayment.