Across OECD countries, megatrends such as digitalisation and automation, demographic changes, and the transition to a low-carbon economy are reshaping the world of work. These changes require individuals to continuously update their skills through adult learning to remain competitive in the labour market. In this context, the traditional three‑stage life model – education, work, retirement – is giving way to a more dynamic, multi-stage model in which lifelong learning becomes the norm. This transformation is further reinforced by population ageing, as individuals are expected to remain active in the workforce for longer.
To respond to these challenges, policymakers are exploring innovative approaches to boost adult learning participation. Among these, individual learning accounts (ILAs) have emerged as one possible mechanism to support more flexible and learner-centred access to training, helping individuals take greater ownership of their learning pathways.
This report is intended to support policymakers in understanding the core features of ILAs and in designing and implementing a national development plan. It was prepared as part of the Support for Developing Individual Learning Accounts in Germany project, which provided technical assistance to the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) as it considered the potential development of ILAs. The project was funded by the European Union via the Technical Support Instrument, and implemented by the OECD, in co‑operation with the European Commission.
The report builds on earlier OECD work on ILAs, including Individual Learning Accounts: Panacea or Pandora’s Box? (2019) and Individualising Training Access Schemes: France – the Compte Personnel de Formation (Personal Training Account – CPF) (2020), as well as the Council of the European Union’s Recommendation on Individual Learning Accounts, adopted in 2022.
The work on this report was led by Ada Zakrzewska. The report was drafted by Shizuka Kato, Magdalena Burtscher and Ada Zakrzewska from the Skills and Future Readiness Division of the Directorate for Employment, Labour and Social Affairs. The work was carried out under the supervision of Glenda Quintini, Head of Division. The authors would like to thank Michele Tuccio (OECD), Joschka Waibel and Jasmin Tarkian (BMBF), as well as numerous representatives from the six featured countries – Croatia, the Czech Republic (Czechia), France, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and Singapore – for their inputs and comments. Special thanks are also given to colleagues from the European Commission, including Klara Engels‑Perenyi, Elisa Gómez Alemán, and Agota Kovacs, for their support and feedback. The authors are also grateful for administrative support provided by Saoirse Douglas and Margherita Onofrio, and editorial assistance provided by Natalie Corry.