In order to be able to study education in adulthood, the National Educational Panel collects data on educational and employment trajectories as well as on the development of competencies over the life course of working-age adults, i.e., from age 23 to retirement and beyond. Like knowledge about adult education in Germany, knowledge about skills endowment and change after the school career is very low.

The data collected will make it possible to trace educational trajectories of adults over their life course, especially their employment history, and to follow up on the educational and employment trajectories of younger cohorts after they enter the labor force. Furthermore, the determinants of decisions to participate or not to participate in formal or non-formal learning activities after initial education can be identified; the competence endowment of different groups of adults in Germany can be described; in addition, it will be possible to determine competence development in adulthood and the role that the employment situation plays in it.

NEPS data can be used to analyze the effects of specific educational contexts in adulthood, especially the employment situation and family constellation, on educational decisions and participation in continuing education, and to estimate the returns to formal qualifications, competencies, and employment experience in terms of wages, employment careers, and other areas of life, such as well-being or social engagement. NEPS data can be used to generate empirical results on migrants' skills endowments, resources, participation in further education and its returns, and to identify opportunities and barriers to learning and education in older adulthood.

Contact: neps-etappe-8@lifbi.de