Cumulative advantage and learning in mid-life

Figures & data

Table 1. Participation in different forms of learning, ages 33–50, by sex.

	M	F	All
	%	%	%
Work-related training	56	47	52
Courses for leisure/interest	40	49	45
Lower qualifications	39	46	43
Intermediate/higher qualifications	19	28	24
Total	4151	4443	8594

Table 2. Participation in learning, ages 33–50, by highest qualification level at age 33.

	None	L1	L2	L3	L4	L5	Total
	%	%	%	%	%	%	%
Work-related training	29	40	49	57	63	67	52
Courses for leisure/interest	24	32	41	51	56	65	45
Lower qualifications	30	42	46	47	43	39	43
Intermediate/higher qualifications	7	14	20	26	37	36	24
Total	737	1184	2812	1397	1516	948	8594

Table 3. Participation in mid-life learning, by participation in young adulthood (ages 23–32).

	Work-related training	Courses for leisure or interest	Lower qualifications	Intermediate or higher qualifications
Course leading to qualifications, aged 23–32:
	%	%	%	%	N
No	47	40	40	17	5155
Yes	62	56	51	37	2744
All	52	45	44	24	7899
Course for leisure or interest, aged 23–32:
No	49	36	41	20	5080
Yes	58	62	49	32	2813
All	52	46	44	24	7893
Vocational training course, aged 23–32:
No	42	41	42	21	4876
Yes	69	53	46	30	2975
All	52	45	44	24	7851

Table 4. Logistic regression models for mid-life learning, multiple imputation dataset.

	Results reported as odds ratios
	(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)
	Vocational training	Courses for interest or leisure	Low-level qualifications	Intermediate or high qualifications	Any type of learning
Highest qualification at 33 (base is none)
Level 1	1.382**	1.228	1.575***	1.840***	1.552***
	(3.06)	(1.86)	(4.45)	(3.65)	(4.27)
Level 2	1.729***	1.617***	1.810***	2.550***	2.324***
	(5.62)	(4.76)	(6.29)	(6.05)	(8.71)
Level 3	2.053***	2.166***	1.844***	3.656***	2.994***
	(6.62)	(6.93)	(5.79)	(7.94)	(9.16)
Level 4	2.146***	2.098***	1.456***	4.526***	3.154***
	(6.64)	(6.34)	(3.37)	(9.08)	(8.59)
Level 5	2.199***	2.659***	1.143	3.691***	3.197***
	(6.10)	(7.51)	(1.07)	(7.39)	(7.00)
Economic status at 33 (base is full-time work)
Part-time work	0.782**	1.139	1.152	1.251*	0.977
	(−3.14)	(1.67)	(1.89)	(2.53)	(−0.22)
Unemployed/Out of Labour Force	0.654***	1.079	1.056	1.315**	0.897
	(−5.68)	(1.02)	(0.77)	(3.11)	(−1.21)
Female	0.914	1.408***	1.245***	1.605***	1.322***
	(−1.46)	(5.64)	(3.74)	(6.77)	(3.50)
Has partner (at age 33)	1.017	0.998	0.934	0.985	1.002
	(0.24)	(−0.03)	(−1.01)	(−0.19)	(0.02)
Children at 33 (base is none)
One	1.167*	0.923	1.171*	0.971	1.108
	(2.01)	(−1.04)	(2.13)	(−0.33)	(1.02)
Two	1.297***	0.953	1.212**	1.090	1.202*
	(3.68)	(−0.71)	(2.88)	(1.08)	(1.98)
Three or more	1.487***	0.912	1.240**	1.336**	1.259*
	(4.57)	(−1.08)	(2.59)	(2.90)	(2.13)
Courses leading to qualifications, between ages 23 and 32	1.349***	1.427***	1.740***	2.287***	2.159***
	(5.52)	(6.61)	(10.45)	(13.92)	(9.54)
Work-related training courses, between ages 23 and 32	2.421***	1.312***	1.279***	1.375***	2.481***
	(16.52)	(5.10)	(4.63)	(5.27)	(11.59)
Any courses for interest, between ages 23 and 32	1.226***	2.186***	1.357***	1.333***	1.976***
	(3.86)	(15.17)	(6.08)	(4.86)	(8.99)
Female	0.914	1.408***	1.245***	1.605***	1.322***
	(−1.46)	(5.64)	(3.74)	(6.77)	(3.50)
Social class at birth (base is professional)
Managerial	1.215	1.038	0.982	0.861	1.139
	(1.62)	(0.31)	(−0.15)	(−1.15)	(0.79)
Skilled non-manual	1.341*	1.002	0.983	1.020	1.397
	(2.31)	(0.01)	(−0.14)	(0.14)	(1.92)
Skilled manual	1.517***	0.887	0.996	1.092	1.365*
	(3.73)	(−1.08)	(−0.04)	(0.73)	(2.04)
Semi-skilled	1.384*	0.807	1.046	1.302	1.244
	(2.57)	(−1.71)	(0.37)	(1.90)	(1.30)
Unskilled	1.517**	0.900	1.115	1.356*	1.284
	(3.05)	(−0.78)	(0.83)	(2.01)	(1.41)
Disabled/long-term illness (at 33)	0.981	1.077	1.167**	0.961	1.097
	(−0.32)	(1.27)	(2.75)	(−0.58)	(1.23)
Occupational class at 33 (base is professional/managerial)
Skilled non-manual	0.957	0.902	1.277***	0.842*	1.043
	(−0.64)	(−1.52)	(3.70)	(−2.22)	(0.45)
Skilled manual	0.857*	0.792**	1.309***	0.801*	1.021
	(−2.09)	(−3.14)	(3.73)	(−2.45)	(0.23)
Semi/unskilled	0.891	0.803**	1.352***	0.866	1.052
	(−1.46)	(−2.73)	(3.87)	(−1.50)	(0.51)
Working in public sector at 33	1.643***	1.083	1.019	1.394***	1.587***
	(7.88)	(1.29)	(0.32)	(4.91)	(4.97)
Working in large organisation at 33	1.520***	0.951	1.033	1.127	1.268*
	(5.38)	(−0.71)	(0.46)	(1.49)	(2.24)
Observations	8594	8594	8594	8594	8594
Imputed datasets	50	50	50	50	50

Note: Exponentiated coefficients; t statistics in parentheses.

* p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001.

Table

	Percentage doing learning in mid-life (ages 33–50)
	Work-related training	Courses for leisure or interest	Lower qualifications	Intermediate or higher qualifications
By social class or origin:	%	%	%	%	N
Professional	52	57	42	31	432
Managerial	53	55	42	25	1236
Skilled non-manual	54	50	42	25	883
Skilled manual	52	43	43	23	4131
Semi-skilled manual	47	38	43	23	1072
Unskilled	47	38	44	22	691
All	51	45	43	24	8445
By highest qualification level at 33:
None	29	24	30	7	737
L1	40	32	42	14	1184
L2	49	41	46	20	2812
L3	57	51	47	26	1397
L4	63	56	43	37	1516
L5	67	65	39	36	948
All	52	45	43	24	8594
By sex:
M	56	40	39	19	4151
F	47	49	46	28	4443
All	52	45	43	24	8594
Course leading to qualifications, aged 23–32:
No	47	40	40	17	5155
Yes	62	56	51	37	2744
All	52	45	44	24	7899
Course for leisure or interest, aged 23–32:
No	49	36	41	20	5080
Yes	58	62	49	32	2813
All	52	46	44	24	7893
Vocational training course, aged 23–32:
No	42	41	42	21	4876
Yes	69	53	46	30	2975
All	52	45	44	24	7851
Long-term illness/disability at 33:
No	52	45	42	24	6915
Yes	51	46	46	23	1679
All	52	45	43	24	8594
Partnered at 33:
No	50	46	43	24	1500
Yes	53	45	44	24	6418
All	52	46	44	24	7918
Any children at 33?
No	54	49	41	25	2422
Yes	51	44	45	24	5496
All	52	46	44	24	7918
Number of children at 33:
None	54	49	41	25	2438
One	52	45	44	23	1466
Two	52	45	45	24	2844
Three or more	49	40	44	24	1168
All	52	46	44	24	7916
Occupational class at 33:
Prof/managerial	62	55	40	31	3130
Skilled non manual	50	47	48	24	2045
Skilled manual	48	34	42	16	1642
Semi/unskilled manual	42	35	44	18	1479
All	52	45	43	24	8296
Econ activity at 33:
Full-time work	57	45	41	23	5467
Part-time work	47	48	48	28	1471
Unemployed/out of labour force	36	44	44	24	1645
All	52	45	43	24	8583
Working in public sector at 33:
No	49	43	44	22	5266
Yes	69	52	45	34	1874
All	54	45	44	25	7140
Working for large organisation at 33:
No	53	45	45	24	5374
Yes	71	48	44	30	1140
All	56	46	45	25	6514

Table

	Logistic regression models for mid-life learning, complete case data
	Results reported as odds ratios
	(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)
	Vocational training	Courses for interest or leisure	Low-level qualifications	Intermediate or high qualifications	Any type of learning
Highest qualification at 33 (base is none)
Level 1	1.247	1.318*	1.486**	1.829**	1.484**
	(1.72)	(1.97)	(3.14)	(2.85)	(3.02)
Level 2	1.639***	1.666***	1.746***	2.624***	2.273***
	(4.12)	(3.89)	(4.71)	(4.84)	(6.59)
Level 3	1.981***	2.353***	1.787***	3.868***	3.336***
	(5.13)	(6.01)	(4.44)	(6.51)	(7.74)
Level 4	1.903***	2.264***	1.402*	4.936***	3.114***
	(4.63)	(5.56)	(2.48)	(7.59)	(6.77)
Level 5	2.024***	2.605***	1.071	4.016***	2.473***
	(4.52)	(5.91)	(0.45)	(6.27)	(4.47)
Economic status at 33 (base is full-time work)
Part-time work	0.681***	1.072	1.130	1.131	0.820
	(−4.29)	(0.77)	(1.41)	(1.21)	(−1.64)
Unemployed/Out of Labour Force	0.578***	1.044	1.092	1.312**	0.831
	(−6.25)	(0.48)	(1.04)	(2.66)	(−1.65)
Female	0.863*	1.447***	1.252**	1.592***	1.275*
	(−2.06)	(5.20)	(3.29)	(5.77)	(2.46)
Has partner (at age 33)	1.050	1.002	0.903	0.999	1.029
	(0.63)	(0.02)	(−1.36)	(−0.01)	(0.27)
Children at 33 (base is none)
One	1.192*	1.019	1.129	0.999	1.191
	(2.04)	(0.22)	(1.48)	(−0.01)	(1.50)
Two	1.325***	1.056	1.166*	1.144	1.297*
	(3.54)	(0.69)	(2.02)	(1.50)	(2.41)
Three or more	1.549***	0.962	1.242*	1.404**	1.482**
	(4.35)	(−0.39)	(2.26)	(2.98)	(2.98)
Courses leading to qualifications, between ages 23 and 32	1.239***	1.391***	1.735***	2.185***	2.038***
	(3.47)	(5.44)	(9.28)	(11.70)	(7.56)
Work-related training courses, between ages 23 and 32	2.207***	1.313***	1.162**	1.367***	2.283***
	(13.25)	(4.59)	(2.60)	(4.67)	(9.22)
Any courses for interest, between ages 23 and 32	1.246***	2.198***	1.394***	1.383***	2.195***
	(3.69)	(13.66)	(5.86)	(4.96)	(8.70)
Social class at birth (base is professional)
Managerial	1.181	1.061	1.073	0.885	1.277
	(1.20)	(0.43)	(0.53)	(−0.82)	(1.22)
Skilled non-manual	1.249	0.922	1.045	1.039	1.362
	(1.53)	(−0.56)	(0.31)	(0.25)	(1.48)
Skilled manual	1.400**	0.880	1.029	1.155	1.402
	(2.62)	(−1.01)	(0.24)	(1.06)	(1.84)
Semi-skilled	1.257	0.839	1.161	1.381*	1.450
	(1.57)	(−1.21)	(1.06)	(2.03)	(1.83)
Unskilled	1.533**	0.828	1.315	1.404	1.254
	(2.69)	(−1.19)	(1.80)	(1.94)	(1.05)
Disabled/long term illness (at 33)	0.997	1.116	1.124	0.999	1.144
	(−0.04)	(1.64)	(1.82)	(−0.02)	(1.48)
Occupational class at 33 (base is professional/managerial)
Skilled non-manual	0.924	0.934	1.172*	0.847	0.901
	(−1.00)	(−0.88)	(2.10)	(−1.90)	(−0.93)
Skilled manual	0.958	0.772**	1.349***	0.839	0.954
	(−0.48)	(−2.90)	(3.50)	(−1.65)	(−0.40)
Semi/unskilled	0.897	0.794*	1.235*	0.905	0.922
	(−1.17)	(−2.44)	(2.32)	(−0.90)	(−0.67)
Working in public sector at 33	1.446***	1.092	0.974	1.371***	1.441***
	(5.46)	(1.33)	(−0.42)	(4.35)	(3.68)
Working in large organisation at 33	1.424***	0.928	1.033	1.111	1.229
	(4.54)	(−1.01)	(0.45)	(1.27)	(1.82)
Observations	6270	6270	6270	6270	6270
McFadden’s Pseudo-R^2	0.088	0.085	0.028	0.096	0.113

Note: Exponentiated coefficients; t statistics in parentheses.

* p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001.