Continuing education of adults is becoming a condition for the survival and development of modern states. With development of science and technology, formal education, regardless of the level of the development achieved, becomes insufficient to follow modern social and technological trend. In this context, there is a need to acquire new knowledge that woud involve all participators in civil life on the path to successful accomplishment of their life missions. Acquiring and use of knowledge in adulthood improves human relations, raises economic growth, encourages employment, raises the quality of the environment, protects and promotes health, raises personal self-confidence, etc. These are the basic reason why modern democratic societies have agreed on the key goals and principles of adult education, as well as the role of education in individual and social development. Lifelong learning must be the guiding principle of education, as well as the foundation for the development of the individuals, social connections and employment. Adult education includes retraing, additional training, vocational training and other activities related to lifelong learning. Access to this education is not limited regardless of age. The realization of successful education requires the participation and responsibility of all partners: adults involved in education, parents, teachers, employers, unions, public institutions, charities and others. This work explores the goals and principles of the development of adult education, and the possibilities of its improvement in the Republic of Srpska as well as the limitations in the realization of the set educational goals. The work aims to point out the gap between offer and needs in labor market, on which future capacities in adult educatain should be based.

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