Wyzwania wobec edukacji starszych pracowników w Polsce

Abstract

Challenges for the education of older workers in Poland The development of human capital determines innovativeness and creativity of societies. However, the propensity to invest in this development is constrained by economic and psychological barriers that keep the percentage of adults covered by life-long education at a still unsatisfactory level, despite certain improvement in this area. In 2006, only 4.7% of persons aged 25-64 years participated in various forms of life-long education in Poland compared with the EU-27 average standing at 9.6%. According to objectives adopted by the European Commission, the Polish rate is expected to reach the level of 12.5% by the year 2010. The article analyses the economic and psychological barriers to education faced by older workers and, building on author’s own experiences derived from the project „Work Alliance”, discusses the ways of reducing them. Recommendation in this area can be helpful, because the Polish government is planning to launch a programme called „Solidarity of Generations 50+” to improve employability of persons aged 50+.