Individual Learning Accounts: A Policymaker’s Guide

• August 13, 2025
• admin

The OECD Guide for Policy Makers explains the benefits of Individual Learning Accounts (ILAs) for lifelong learning. Individual Learning Accounts are policy tools designed to promote lifelong learning by placing individuals at the center of skills development. They aim to support continuous upskilling and reskilling throughout a person’s working life, helping individuals remain adaptable and employable in a changing labour market. ILAs are used to strengthen workforce adaptability and facilitate career transitions.

These accounts typically prioritize labour market-relevant skills, with training eligibility often based on qualification and occupational standards. Pilot programs in countries such as Croatia, Czechia, and Lithuania focus on high-demand areas like digital and green skills. Lithuania, for example, allocates half of its ILA budget to digital skills and the other half to developing key lifelong learning competencies. In Singapore, the SkillsFuture Credit supports both occupation-specific and transversal skills through a national Skills Framework. France’s CPF allows for a wide range of learning activities tied to recognized qualifications.

Although objective outcome data is limited, self-reported feedback suggests positive effects. Participants reported increased self-confidence and interest in learning. Further surveys show that learners believe their training improves workplace performance, supports career progression, and helps them apply new skills on the job. To enhance effectiveness, ILAs are often supported by complementary measures such as career guidance and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

In summary, ILAs are evolving into integrated systems that not only provide financial support for learning but also guide individuals toward relevant skill development, reinforcing lifelong learning and adaptability in the workforce.