Lifelong learning

Definitions Working, unemployed and inactive The survey is harmonised at European level. The definitions on employment and unemployment used are those of the International Labour Office (IAB), thus ensuring comparability of results at international level. Persons with a job (working persons) are persons who worked during the reference week ‘for payment’ or with the aim of ‘making profit’ regardless of the duration (even if this was only one hour), or who had a job but were temporarily absent. For example, one may be temporarily absent due to holidays, illness, technical or economic reasons (temporary unemployment),... The working family members are also included among the workers. Since 2021, persons who are temporarily unemployed or inactive for an uninterrupted period of more than three months have been counted and no longer employed. The unemployed are all persons who: (a) had no employment during the reference week, i.e. self-employed or self-employed; (B) were available for work, i.e. for employment or self-employment within two weeks of the reference week; (C) actively sought employment, i.e. during the last four weeks, including the reference week, targeted steps had taken to seek employment or self-employment, or had found employment and would start working within a maximum of three months. Lifelong learning Lifelong learning is measured by the percentage of the population who have received formal or non-formal education in the past 12 months or 4 weeks. Formal courses are courses recognised by the ministries of education and usually lead to a diploma or certificate such as a master’s degree or an adult education course. Non-formal courses are courses outside this context but are still organised in a structured way, e.g. a health course organised by the health insurance fund or a webinar on time management organised by an independent entrepreneur. Self-study and informal learning are not part of this. Education level is measured on the basis of a detailed questionnaire, and the individuals are then divided into three groups. Low-skilled people are those who have a maximum degree from lower secondary education. Middle-skilled people are those who have obtained a diploma from upper secondary education, but not a higher education diploma. High-skilled people have a higher education diploma.