Education is an equalizer, and certain groups of workers believe lifelong learning can help them increase professional success

Lifelong learning can level the playing field for workers


Education is an equalizer, and certain groups of workers believe lifelong learning can help them increase professional success

After two years of financial insecurities created by furloughs and job losses, working Americans – and particularly those in underrepresented groups – place a high priority on job-related learning and lifelong learning to ensure their futures, according to a new report from Bright Horizons.

The report is the first from the Bright Horizons 2021 Education Index, a series of research reports that will explore issues related to education. The inaugural report, “Workforce Education and Equity in the Workplace,” which was conducted by Kelton Global, surveyed American working adults on their sentiment and outlook on the role of education for professional growth. 

According to the report, Black (90 percent) and Hispanic/Latino (91 percent) workers believe learning new skills will be important for them to succeed in the future. Specifically, 87 percent of Black workers and 80 percent of Hispanic/Latino workers say completing a certificate program will be important for future success — versus 62 percent of white workers.  Additionally, 81 percent of Black and 79 percent of Hispanic/Latino workers believe a degree will be important for future success, more so than their white peers (50 percent).

Coming out of the pandemic, nearly half (45 percent) of American workers surveyed state that their education became even more important for their growth in the past year, with Black (55 percent) and Hispanic/Latino (54 percent) employees feeling this more strongly than white (41 percent) workers.

“The data show that underrepresented employees feel that the odds are stacked against them in their careers, and access to education is a key element that can level the playing field in the workplace. This is where employers need to step in or risk their organization’s reputation and employee morale,” said Dr. Jill Buban, General Manager of Bright Horizons EdAssist Solutions.

Obstacles to education goals

Even with this premium on education, there are several pervasive roadblocks workers face in achieving their education goals. The top barriers reported include not having the money to pay for the program (30 percent), not having the time (28 percent), and having too much going on at work and in their personal lives to take on any new challenges (28 percent). 

When it comes to underrepresented workers, these obstacles are amplified. Black employees (44 percent) report the inability to afford education programs as a more prevalent issue than white employees (29 percent), and working women (36 percent) are more likely than working men (22 percent) to report this challenge. Nearly two-thirds (61 percent) of women said they have not been able to participate in an education program in the past 5 years, while just over half (51 percent) of men report the same.

Education on the forefront


With many employers calling employees back to the office in some capacity this fall, employers are going to find that employees have returned with a renewed vision for education, provided by their employer. Three in five (60 percent) American workers expect employers to offer education assistance benefits, with a similar proportion also expecting employers to offer a broad range of options when it comes to these benefits (57 percent).

Underrepresented workers, including Black and Hispanic/Latino workers, reported a higher appreciation for education benefits. Compared to white workers (73 percent), more Black (90 percent) and Hispanic/Latino (88 percent) employees are looking to develop and expand their skillsets to advance and grow. Additionally, Black and Hispanic/Latino workers are more likely to believe that improving (86 percent and 85 percent, respectively) and diversifying (86 percent and 80 percent, respectively) their skillset is more crucial than ever before, as compared to their white peers (71 percent and 69 percent, respectively).

A win-win for employers and employees


While many workers see learning as a pathway to personal betterment, they also see it as a way to improve their performance on the job, thus benefiting their organizations. About one in three (33 percent) workers were driven to pursue education opportunities by a desire to contribute at a higher level and to bring more value to their organizations (31 percent). Black workers are more focused on improving their job security than their white coworkers (34 percent vs. 25 percent) and setting a positive example for their families (34 percent vs. 23 percent). 

Buban adds, “For employers, there is a major benefit in offering career development and education opportunities that will serve to upskill employees and ultimately build a talent pipeline that will bolster recruiting efforts for years to come.”

Material from a press release was used in this report.

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Laura Ascione

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