The current situation of gender differences in non-formal and informal learning activities in the Spanish adult population

INTRODUCTION. The need of continuous and lifelong training is an issue that has prevailed since the last century (European Commission, 1995; European Council, 1975; Delors, 1996; Marsick & Watkins, 1990). In this regard, we obverse changes in the ways of learning highlighting those that take place outside formal educational and training institution and that do not depend directly on the trainer or structured processes. METHOD. This paper starts from the results obtained in the Adult Education Survey (EADA, by its Spanish acronym). Specifically, the collection method is a computer-assisted personal interview, through stratified random sampling, of 153 items to 17,829 Spanish persons. In this sense, it has a twofold aim (1) to analyze if there are gender differences in non-formal and informal activities carried out; and, if so, (2) to identify the variables associated with these differences. Therefore, we use descriptive and inferential statistics of the most important variables. RESULTS. The outcomes indicate significant differences between male and female sexes in regards to age, nationality and social class for taking part in non-formal and informal learning activities. DISCUSSION. Finally, we point out the limitations of these variables in women’s professional development, and we make proposals for progressing in the elimination of these differences.