Continuous learning has long been identified as being one of many important skills for adults to foster, but in the modern world, it’s become even more important. Lifelong learning, simply put, means being willing to continue to learn new skills and improve upon existing ones. Not only is it tied to success on the job front, but it’s also been tied to improving mental health and wellness. And with technology and the economic market in constant flux nowadays, lifelong learning has become more important than ever. Even older workers can benefit from upskilling and reskilling, which is very important as people stay longer in the workforce.
The Necessity of Lifelong Learning
Technology alone has made it so that it’s critical to be comfortable with continuous learning. For example, AI has reworked a lot of industries and is constantly growing and changing. AI has seeped into many aspects of work and more and more employers are starting to integrate it into their work. Other things are automation which is becoming more common in the workplace and a focus on skill-based employment rather than purely academic credentials. Staying abreast of changes in an industry is very important now, no matter what your job or career is. Continuous learning goes a long way towards helping with this.
Being willing to embark on lifelong learning also shows that you are serious about your industry, that you are open-minded, and lets you bring the information back to others to spread it around which is always beneficial. Employers who encourage their staff to continue learning also boosts employee engagement and loyalty, so it’s good all around.
Ways to Access Lifelong Learning
One of the big concerns that people have when it comes to education is how to pay for it as it’s often seen as very expensive. But there are ways to mitigate those costs or get training in other ways. These can include:
- Funding through places like WorkBC
- Canada Training Benefit which can provide a bit of money for eligible training
- Student loans (they are interest free)
Employers may also have programs to help improve your skills and training; it’s always worth asking!
But you can also learn new skills through free training websites, YouTube, or just by reading how to do something. The library for example can be a great place to get free resources to learn or upgrade skills!
Lifelong learning can demand a lot of time and energy (and money) to obtain, but it is growing more important in today’s employment landscape. It allows you to keep up with the changes in your industry, helps your employer, and is good for your mental health! It is always worth pursuing and can happen anytime in your life. So enjoy the journey and keep learning!
