Nowadays society is getting older in European countries. Technologies, speed of life requires higher level of abilities and competencies. People who are 55 and older are very experienced in their workplace but some of them cannot catch changes in their professional area. Quantitative research results demonstrate that learning is one of important factors which helps to stay active in labor market for longer time. People participate in different learning activities to get more professional competencies or to change qualification, to get higher salary or learning was required from employer. The main barriers for learning were mentioned: lack of time, no needed learning at all and lack of information. People who have longer tradition and personal motivation use different learning ways more often, and they say that learning as precondition to stay active in labor market for elder people.

Silva Lengvinienė-socialinių mokslų daktarė (edukologija), Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas, Edukologijos katedra. Moksliniai interesai-suaugusiųjų švietimas, mokymasis visą gyvenimą. 2 Aušra Rutkienė-socialinių mokslų daktarė (edukologija), Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas. Moksliniai interesai: socialinių mokslų tyrimo metodai, kiekybinių tyrimo duomenų apdorojimo metodai, nuotolinis mokymas.

The data provided by Eurostat show that adults who are aged 55 and over participate in education and training about 20 perc. less frequently than the younger ones, who are aged from 18 to 54. Such results are caused by imperfection of adult education, employer attitude and other reasons. Research studies performed in 2004-2006 revealed the problems which arise both for those adults who intend to study and also to educational institutions. Question of the research - which factors cause senior citizens’ motivation to learn aiming at staying active in the labour market? Survey was performed in 2016, 453 respondents participated in the research. The findings show that well-being, economical factors and learning play a decisive role in senior citizens’ staying active in the labour market as well as previous education and place of residence.