Adults in education and training across EU regions

The distribution of adult participation rates in formal and non-formal learning during the last 4 weeks at the regional level (NUTS 2 regions) tends to be very homogeneous within EU countries, reflecting national rather than regional education and training initiatives. 

In 2022, 96 out of 240 regions had participation rates equal to or above the EU average of 11.9%. This group included every region of Denmark, Spain, the Netherlands, Austria, Slovenia, Finland and Sweden, as well as Estonia, Luxembourg and Malta (all single regions at this level of detail).

At the top of the list, there were 24 regions where at least one-quarter of people aged 25 - 64 participated in education and training during the four weeks prior to the survey. In 8 regions of Sweden, the participation rates were higher than in any other region in the EU, peaking at 38.1% in the capital region of Stockholm. This group also included all 5 regions of Denmark and 9 out of the 12 regions in the Netherlands, with the highest rates observed in Hovedstaden (the Danish capital region) and Utrecht (the Netherlands). Two other capital regions are on this list: Helsinki-Uusimaa in Finland and Bratislavský kraj in Slovakia. 

Source dataset:  trng_lfse_04

On the other hand, 29 regions observed participation rates for adult education and training below 5.0% in 2022. This group was concentrated in Bulgaria (all 6 regions), Greece (10 out of 12 regions; no data for Ionia Nisia) and Croatia (3 out of 4 regions), but also included 5 regions in Poland, 3 in Romania, as well as one in Belgium and another in Germany.

Higher participation rates for women in 192 out of 233 NUTS 2 regions

In 2022, 12.9% of women aged 25–64 participated in education and training during the four weeks prior to the survey. This was 2.1 percentage points (pp) higher than the corresponding share recorded for men (10.8 %). Higher participation rates for education and training for women were observed in 192 out of 233 NUTS 2 regions for which data are available. There were 3 regions where the participation rates between the sexes were the same, while the remaining 38 regions had higher participation rates for men.

The higher rates of women participating in education and training were especially pronounced in regions characterised by very high overall participation rates. This was particularly the case for the 8 Swedish regions, where participation of women was 11.5 to 17.6 pp higher than that of men; the largest gap was observed in Mellersta Norrland (17.6 pp). Significantly higher rates were also recorded in the capital regions of two other Nordic EU countries: Helsinki-Uusimaa in Finland (9.8 pp gap) and Hovedstaden in Denmark (9.1 pp).

The regions where adult participation rates in education and training were higher among men were concentrated across Germany (13 regions), Romania (5 regions), Czechia (4 regions), Italy (also 4 regions, principally in the north), Greece and Slovakia (both with 3 regions). 

Source dataset:  trng_lfse_04

This information is present in the 2023 edition of Eurostat's regional yearbook, which focuses on the European Year of Skills, designed to support individuals to get the right skills for quality jobs while helping businesses address skills shortages. Extended chapters on education and the labour market gauge how the different regions are faring. 

Would you like to know more about education and training in the EU? 

You can read more in the dedicated section of the Regions in Europe - 2023 interactive edition  and in the dedicated chapter in the Eurostat regional yearbook - 2023 edition, also available as a Statistics Explained article. The corresponding maps in the Statistical Atlas provide a full-screen interactive map.