Germany has strong foundations. Adult skills are above the OECD average, and the dual vocational training system is internationally respected. However, the economic success and social stability of the past cannot be taken for granted. With structural trends such as digitalisation, decarbonisation, and demographic change, skill demands are changing fundamentally and exacerbating the existing shortage of qualified workers.
In this context, adult learning is a central lever. It plays a decisive role in determining whether people can have longer and better working lives, whether companies have the necessary skills, and whether Germany can secure its economic competitiveness and social stability. To support these goals, the country requires a future-ready adult learning system that is accessible to all and better aligned with the needs of learners, employers, and society.
The OECD, in partnership with the Bertelsmann Stiftung, is launching a dialogue on reform in adult learning in Germany. The goal is to bring key stakeholders together, identify reform priorities, and develop actionable strategies for a more aligned, accessible and adaptive adult learning system.
