Adult education as a stepping-stone to better jobs: An analysis of the adult education survey in Turkey

The objective of this article is to investigate whether adult education (AE) can be used as a tool in facilitating transitions to/in the labor market, using the cross-sectional Adult Education Survey of Turkey (2012). AE is defined as the nonformal education for individuals aged older than 25 years. The outcome of AE is measured by changing jobs for employed and finding a job for the unemployed. Concentrating on employed people, we analyze both the determinants and the outcome of participation in AE for the purpose of changing jobs; and second, concentrating on unemployed people, we analyze both the determinants and the outcome of participation in AE for the purpose of getting employed. We find that once young males who are already working participate in AE for changing work, independent of their education or how AE is financed, they can be successful in doing so. The results of the paper suggest that AE programs offered by the government can serve as a tool in increasing income of the less educated and the unemployed by facilitating their transition to the labor market.