Participation in adult education: documentation of statistics
The documentation of the statistics describes how the statistics were compiled and what methods were used in the compilation. The data help interpret the figures of the statistics and evaluate their reliability and comparability. The quality report is based on the EU's SIMS model. The documentation also contains change releases describing changes in the statistics and possible specifying methodological descriptions.
If you are looking for statistical figures for these statistics, go to the statistics page: Participation in adult education
Quality report
Data description (SIMS 3.1)
Statistics on participation in adult education describe participation in education and learning among the adult population. The survey is carried out as part of the Adult Education Survey project of Eurostat. Data are collected with an inquiry and published around every five years.
Sector coverage (SIMS 3.3)
The statistics on participation in adult education cover the entire population aged 18 to 69 living in Finland.
Statistical unit (SIMS 3.5)
One person is the statistical unit used in the statistics on participation in adult education.
Statistical population (SIMS 3.6)
The adult population (aged 18 to 69) living in Finland constitutes the population in the survey, and the sample size is approximately 7,500 persons. Until 2017, the statistical population of the EU AES comprised persons aged 25 to 64, but since 2022 it has comprised persons aged 18 to 69.
Reference area (SIMS 3.7)
The reference area for the statistics on participation in adult education is the whole of Finland.
Time coverage (SIMS 3.8)
Data are available for the years 1980, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2006, 2012, 2017 and 2022.
The statistics are final.
Unit of measure (SIMS 4)
Number of persons and percentage share.
Reference period (SIMS 5)
The 12 months preceding data collection in the survey years 1980, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2006, 2012, 2017 and 2022.
Classifications (SIMS 3.2)
The following classifications are used in the statistics:
age, sex, level of education, socioeconomic status, municipality group.
Concepts and definitions (SIMS 3.4)
Adult education
Adult education refers to provision of instructed learning events for adults who usually act or have acted in working life after earlier terminated or interrupted education within the regular education system. It is characteristic that adult education is arranged and organised specifically with adults in mind. Differences to education within the regular education system can be such as the time and modes of instruction. In the Adult Education Survey, adult education is defined on the basis of the organisation providing education and training (educational institution, training organisation or other such training organiser). Because participation in different types of educational institutions and training organisations is taken into account on the data collection form, the definition of adult education can be made from different points of view.
Adult education connected with the participant's work or occupation (vocational adult education)
A distinction was made, from the interviewee's viewpoint, between adult education connected with the participant's work or occupation and education pursued out of a general interest or with a hobby or pastime in mind, on the basis of the person's own statement of the purpose of participation.
Days of participation
The days on which the respondent had been participating in adult education and training (i.e. receiving instruction, etc.) during the preceding 12 months are counted as his/her days of participation. This need not necessarily be the total duration of the course or teaching. The figure does not include travel to and from the place where the course was held, nor any time spent at home on preparation or exercises. One day of participation or education is taken as lasting six hours.
Employer-sponsored training
In the Adult Education Survey all adult education partly or wholly paid for by the respondent's employer was considered to be employer-sponsored training regardless of its content. This may have been entirely sponsored by the employer, in the sense that all the respondent's expenses were paid and the event took place entirely within working hours. All such adult education was considered partly sponsored by the employer where the employer had taken part in its costs and/or the training or its part had taken place within working hours, but in addition the respondent had had to spend some leisure time or holiday time on it, obtain leave of absence for study purposes and/or had to contribute towards the costs. The questions on costs and use of time applied only to adult education connected with the respondent's work or occupation that had been provided by adult education organisations (or equivalent forms of adult training).
Entirely voluntary vocational adult education and training
This term is used to denote adult education and training connected with the respondent's work or occupation which takes place entirely outside working time and involves no financial contribution from either the person's employer or his/her trade union.
Lifelong Learning
Lifelong Learning (LLL) is defined as encompassing all learning activity undertaken throughout life, with the aim of improving knowledge, skills and competences, within a personal, civic, social and/or employment-related perspective.
Participation in education and training
The purpose of the Adult Education Survey was to study participation in all organised education and training and not only that specifically arranged for adults. Similarly, with the notion of life-long learning in mind, respondents were asked about what was the highest basic educational qualification they had obtained during their whole life and to what extent they had taken part in training arranged in connection with their work or occupation and in education and training courses abroad. Efforts were then made to determine more precisely the participation of the adult education and training during the reference period for twelve months preceding the interview. Including study periods or courses that had not been completed. All activities specifically arranged and organised for the purpose of bringing about learning were regarded as education. It was also required that these activities should have had a pre-arranged curriculum or syllabus and that there should have been a specific provider or organiser responsible for the arrangements. Information sessions, advertising campaigns, sales drives and meetings were not regarded as forms of education.
Regular education system
The basic education system is regarded primarily as consisting of: - teaching provided for young people at upper secondary schools, vocational schools and colleges, polytechnics, and universities - teaching at folk high schools, music schools and colleges and sports colleges leading to a vocational qualification, and - postgraduate education at universities (researcher training).
Self-directed study
In the Adult Education Survey, self-directed study was taken as comprising personal study - learning of new knowledge and skills - occurring beyond the sphere of formal, organised education. Thus it may be fairly informal in character and may be pursued by the respondent either alone or in the company of colleagues or friends. So-called occasional studying is not included.
Institutional mandate (SIMS 6)
The compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act. The Statistics Act contains provisions on collection of data, processing of data and the obligation to provide data. Besides the Statistics Act, the General Data Protection Regulation, the Data Protection Act and the Act on the Openness of Government Activities are applied to processing of data when producing statistics.
Statistics Finland compiles statistics in line with the EU’s regulations applicable to statistics, which steer the statistical agencies of all EU Member States.
Further information: Statistical legislation
Legal acts and other agreements (SIMS 6.1)
The compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act. The Statistics Act contains provisions on collection of data, processing of data and the obligation to provide data. Besides the Statistics Act, the Data Protection Act and the Act on the Openness of Government Activities are applied to processing of data when producing statistics.
Statistics Finland compiles statistics in line with the EU’s regulations applicable to statistics, which steer the statistical agencies of all EU Member States.
The collection of EU‑harmonised data is compulsory in EU Member States. The national adult education survey is integrated into the regulation‑based EU Adult Education Survey (EU) 2021/859 and (EU) 2021/861.
Data sharing (SIMS 6.2)
The data are published in the release system on Statistics Finland’s website, as database tables and articles.
The research data shallbe transmitted to the European Commission (Eurostat) within six months of the end of the national data collection period. Eurostat publishes tables, press releases, and publications presenting EU‑level data from the survey and makes the survey microdata available to researchers in accordance with its own data access procedures.
Cost and burden (SIMS 16)
Statistics Finland assesses the respondent burden, among other things, by the response time (minutes per respondent).
Source data (SIMS 18.1)
Persons aged 18 to 69 living permanently in Finland comprise the population of the adult education survey 2022. Persons permanently in the institution are excluded from the population. The data sorted in accordance with the domicile code of the Population Information System served as the sampling frame from which the sample was drawn. The sample size was 7,500 people.
Frequency of data collection (SIMS 18.2)
The survey has been carried out approximately every five years. The data were collected in 1980, 1990, 2000, 2006, 2012, 2017 and 2022.
Data collection (SIMS 18.3)
The data for the adult education survey were collected using the mixed-mode data collection method, in which all persons included in the sample were first provided with the opportunity to give their responses online. Those who did not submit their responses online were provided with an opportunity for a phone interview. Online interviews 86 % of all responses.
Contents of the EU-AES data collection are specified in the implementing regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council. Some of the data collected in the Finnish adult education survey are only intended for national use.
The interview and web questionnaire forms were tested in the form team. Length of the form (maintaining response motivation), comprehensibility (interviewer could not provide any information on the concepts) and usability (functionality, visual clarity, navigation through the questionnaire) were the main challenges concerning the web questionnaire form.
In the testing the focus was on the functioning of the web questionnaire form from the respondent’s perspective. The purpose of the testing was to determine whether the questionnaire form was easy to understand and whether it was considered complicated by the respondents. At the same time, observations on the practicability of the questionnaire form were also made.
The data collection was carried out using the software version Blaise 5. The questionnaire was prepared in Finnish, Swedish and English.
Data validation (SIMS 18.4)
The data used in the statistics on participation in adult education are validated at numerous stages during the statistical process. During the processing of the data, the high quality of the data is ensured with various statistical verification programs, data requests addressed to data suppliers as well as by comparing the data with previous comparable statistics and other data sources.
Data compilation (SIMS 18.5)
The survey data was weighted to match the entire population, which corrects for the effects of non-response and improves the statistical accuracy of the data. The weighting coefficients were generated by first calculating the base weights that account for the probability of each observation being included in the sample. The base weights were divided by the response probabilities estimated by the response probability model. In the response probability model, response was explained by gender, age, level of education, statistical municipality grouping, language and marital status.
The final weights were generated using the so-called calibration method (Calmar) so that the estimated marginal distributions of the selected background variables, sex, age group, educational level and region of residence, correspond to the marginal distributions of the whole population, i.e. the demographic structure.
Overall accuracy (SIMS 13.1)
The accuracy of data collected in a sample survey is affected by measurement errors, non-response and the random variation attributable to the sample. Measurement errors may arise if questions can be understood and interpreted in different ways or if the respondents do not give the requested information. Measurement errors are reduced through interviewer training and form testing. Survey non-response is divided into unit non-response and item (or partial) non-response. The survey’s non-response is classified into unit non-response and item non-response or partial non-response. Unit non-response means that target persons cannot be interviewed at all because they refuse to be interviewed or cannot be reached. Weighting coefficients can be used to correct unit non-response. Item non-response refers to question-specific non-response. In such cases an interview has been conducted but data are missing in certain questions because the interview was interrupted or the interviewee refused to respond.
Quality assurance (SIMS 11.1)
Quality management requires comprehensive guidance of activities. The European Statistics Code of Practice forms the basis for the common quality system of the European Statistical System.
The Code of Practice is based on 16 principles that concern statistical authorities' independence, accountability and the quality of the processes and data to be published.
The principles are in line with the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics approved by the United Nations Statistics Commission and are supplementary to them. The quality criteria of Official Statistics of Finland are compatible with the European Statistics Code of Practice.
Further information: European Statistics Code of Practice | Statistics Finland and Recommendations of the Advisory Board of Official Statistics of Finland | Statistics Finland
Quality assessment (SIMS 11.2)
The quality of the statistics on participation in adult education is assessed in several different stages of the statistical process. An EU-AES quality report on the statistics is also prepared.
Data revision - policy (SIMS 17.1)
Timeliness (SIMS 14.1)
The adult education survey is carried out every 6 years. The data for 2022 were collected between September 2022 and February 2023.
The data are published eight months after the data collection.
Punctuality (SIMS 14.2)
EU-AES data were transmitted to Eurostat as planned six months after the end of the data collection.
Comparability - over time (SIMS 15.2)
Statistics Finland data on participation in adult education in Finland are available for the years 1980, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2006, 2012, 2017 and 2022. The following indicators describing participation are comparable up to 1980: participation in adult education, participation in adult education related to work or profession, and participation in adult education unrelated to work or profession (general education or leisure objective). Time series data on participation in personnel training as well as on volumes of adult education and of different types of adult education (training days) are available from 1990 onwards.
Coherence – cross domain (SIMS 15.3)
Both the statistics on participation in adult education and the statistics on continuing vocational training (CVTS) measure the participation rate in education and training subsidised by the employer (personnel training). In the statistics on continuing vocational training, the term competence development in enterprises has been adopted instead of the term personnel training. Competence development in enterprises refers to the competence development of the enterprises personnel, which is wholly or partly financed by the employer, and which is performed wholly or partly during working hours.
The statistics on participation in adult education produce this information from the viewpoint of individuals (wage and salary earners aged 18 to 69) while the statistics on continuing vocational training (CVTS) produce it from the viewpoint of enterprises (mainly private sector enterprises with at least 10 employees). The reference years of the statistics differ from each other.
The statistics on participation in adult education cover all types of learning activities, whereas the collection of data in the statistics on continuing vocational training (CVTS) focuses on course-based studying.
Possible differences in survey results are caused by differing survey designs, data collection methods, target groups and contexts.
Release calendar (SIMS 8.1)
Statistics Finland publishes new statistical data at 8 am on weekdays in its web service. The release times of statistics are given in advance in the release calendar available in the web service. The data become public after they have been updated in the web service.
Further information: Publication principles for statistics at Statistics Finland
Release calendar access (SIMS 8.2)
User access (SIMS 8.3)
The data are released to all users at the same time. Statistical data may be processed at Statistics Finland and information on them may be given before release only by persons involved in the production of the statistics concerned or who need the data of the statistics concerned in their own work before the data are published.
Further information: Publication principles for statistics
Unless otherwise specifically stated in connection with the product, data or service concerned, Statistics Finland is the producer and copyright owner of the data. The terms of use for statistical data.
Frequency of dissemination (SIMS 9)
The statistics on participation in adult education are compiled approximately every five years.
The material concerning a single year is published in several releases covering different areas of content.
News release (SIMS 10.1)
The release is published every six years on the home page of the statistics.
Online database (SIMS 10.3)
The database tables of the statistics can be found in the StatFin database.
Micro-data access (SIMS 10.4)
The data from the statistics will be made into national research data, which will be released for research use against the user licence.
AES microdata (for research use) is available for research years 2006, 2012, 2017 and 2022. Applications for a licence are submitted to Eurostat at https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/microdata.
Documentation on methodology (SIMS 10.6)
The manual of the statistics on participation in adult education can be found on the CIRCABC website
-> Browse categories --> Eurostat Commission --> Eurostat --> Education and Training Statistics --> Library --> Methodological information --> 5. Adult learning statistics --> 1. Adult Education Survey (AES)
Confidentiality - policy (SIMS 7.1)
The data protection of data collected for statistical purposes is guaranteed. The compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act. Alongside the Statistics Act, the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation and the Finnish Data Protection Act are applied to the processing of personal data. Provisions on the confidentiality of data collected for statistical purposes are laid down in the Act on the Openness of Government Activities.
The data are processed only by persons who need the data in their work. The use of data is restricted by usage rights. All persons employed by Statistics Finland have signed a pledge of secrecy, where they have obliged to keep secret the data prescribed as confidential by virtue of the Statistics Act or the Act on the Openness of Government Activities.
Further information: Data protection | Statistics Finland (stat.fi)
Confidentiality - data treatment (SIMS 7.2)
The research data must be transmitted to the European Commission (Eurostat) in CSV format within three months of the end of the national data collection period using the Edamis Web Application (EWA) data transfer software. The quality report must be transmitted within six months of the end of the data collection period and it must be structured in accordance with the European Statistical System Standard Quality Report Structure.
The sole identifier in the data to be sent to Eurostat is the consecutive target number created for the sample based on which a respondent cannot be identified.
The data are released in text, graph and table formats, which does not allow for the identification of individual data producers.