Adult Education and Training Survey, 1998: Programs

The 1998 Adult Education and Training Survey is the sixth in a series of similar surveys designed to measure adult participation in education and 1training. Statistics Canada conducted the Adult Education Survey (AES) in 1984 on behalf of the Department of the Secretary of State and the Adult Training Survey (ATS) in 1986, on behalf of Employment and Immigration Canada. In the late 1980s, as the number of adult Canadians pursuing education and training programs increased, there was a renewed interest in education and retraining as economic development issues. These concerns resulted in Employment and Immigration Canada commissioning Statistics Canada to conduct the Adult Education and Training Survey (AETS) in November 1990, and again in 1992. <br> The main objective of all four surveys was to measure participation rates.In general, each successive questionnaire evolved into a more detailed and comprehensive survey instrument, with greater emphasis on profiling the role of the employer and identifying barriers to training. In 1994, the AETS was modified to explore areas such as access to training. <br> The 1998 Adult Education and Training Survey (AETS) is comparable to the 1994 survey. A few new questions on motivations and expectations have been added. And, for the first time, the survey was conducted using computer-assisted interviewing. As in 1994, Statistics Canada conducted the survey on behalf of Human Resources Development Canada.