Third Horizontal Axis: Employers’ Support of NFE

This chapter conducts an empirical analysis of the dynamics surrounding job-related non-formal education (NFE) within Central European (CE) Adult Learning Systems (ALSs), with a particular emphasis on market integration and employer backing for such training initiatives. It explores the pronounced shift towards job-related NFE, which now constitutes the majority of Adult Education and Training (AET) engagement, underscoring the escalating trend of employer participation in training since the 1990s. The findings reveal a substantial rise in participation rates for job-related NFE across CE, albeit with noticeable exceptions and disparities among the countries. For instance, while participation rates in Poland, Czechia, and Hungary have doubled, Slovakia has shown modest growth yet retains the highest predilection for job-related training. Additionally, the chapter delves into the varied trajectories of liberalization and employer support for NFE across CE, noting differing levels of employer financial contribution to job-related NFE. The Czech Republic and Slovakia demonstrate a more robust commitment to workplace learning, supported by a prevalence of medium and large businesses, in contrast to the lesser employer support observed in Poland and Hungary. Through this analysis, the chapter illuminates the structural differences and evolutionary paths of CE ALSs in terms of job-related NFE and the extent of employer involvement.