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Personal learning gaps and motivations across income and race groups
A nationwide survey of 2,752 adults finds 44 percent of those in households under $30,000 use the Internet for personal learning in the past year, vs 60 percent above $75,000, with similar gaps in professional learning among workers. Access devices boost learning, with 82 percent of smartphone and home broadband users engaging in personal learning. Whites report higher personal learning rates (79%) than Blacks (64%) and Hispanics (60%), while 65 percent of white workers are professional learners compared with 59 percent of Black and 52 percent of Hispanic workers. Major reasons include personal interest (80%), helping others (64%), and time (60%), with 36 percent aiming to turn hobbies into income and 33 percent to help kids keep up with schoolwork. Among workers, 55 percent pursue work or career learning to maintain or improve job skills, 36 percent for licenses or certifications, 24 percent to upgrade skills for raises, 13 percent to switch jobs, and 7 percent worry about downsizing.