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I want a job! Employment as motivation

Learning is seen as a route into work for the unemployed or, for those in low-skilled, low-paid work, as a way into more highly skilled, highly paid jobs. Through our research, we have found out about the various reasons that employment acts as a motivation for people to engage in learning.

I want a job! Those who are out of work regard learning as a way of getting a job. By spending time on a course, people can prove to potential employers that they have been spending their time productively, and show that they have learnt useful skills for the workplace.

People approach this in one of two ways. Some people know the type of job they would like to do, and so take part in targeted, relevant learning for that kind of role. Others are more concerned that they have the widest scope possible for getting a job, and so engage in learning across a number of different areas. Both approaches can lead to very enthusiastic learners, who have a clear goal in mind:

"...that's the way I look at it, I'll go on as many courses as they put me on, 'cos they're all to your advantage at the end of the day."

I want a better job! For those who are employed in low skilled, routine work, learning can be the opportunity to aim for something requiring a higher level of skills which is more interesting and challenging.

"I was doing shop work and I wanted something better, and you got to be...when you go for a better job, more pay, more skills, you have to have the qualifications to back it up. So at that time, that was what I wanted to do..."

Others may be employed in higher skilled work, but be ready for a change of direction. People are aware that in today's jobs market, they need qualifications if they are to change jobs or move up the careers ladder. For some people this is related to their perception of their age, for others because they are bored of their current job and ready for something new:

"I would like to get a degree...[in] anything really, just that...something related to what I do in my work, either financial management or something like that, and just so there is something else I can do...my career is now getting to a stage where there is not really much you can do in financial services...There are not many people 50 in my job and I'm coming up to 40 so..."

There are four main work-related reasons that employed people engage in learning:

• to progress up the career ladder
• to improve or update skills for current job
• to gain the right skills and qualifications for a specific job
• to be able to "prove" skills with a qualification

Overall, the relationship between learning and work is to do with people wanting to improve their quality of life. For many, this is about increasing their earning potential. For others, it means increasing the amount of challenge presented by their work.

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