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This report is based on a research project undertaken by CEDEFOP, employing a Eurobarometer survey, which aimed to obtain innovative information about lifelong learning from the perspective of individuals themselves. This report provides a detailed analysis of the survey results, following the 2003 publication of an initial analysis (indexed at TD/TNC 74.360). The results obtained were divided into four major areas which form the structure of this report. The first examines citizens’ perceptions of the usefulness of a range of skills both ‘old’ and ‘new’, and whether they believe they possess these skills themselves; the second area questions where and how people feel they learn best, with a particular focus on work-based learning; section three discusses issues related to participation and intentions towards lifelong learning; and the fourth explores policy-relevant issues while comparing the collected data with results from previous Eurobarometer surveys. The results of the survey include: most citizens see traditional skills and social skills as very useful, and largely feel proficient in these; older citizens are more likely to feel less than proficient in all ‘new skills’ and see them as useless in their lives; there is a visible gendered skills gap in information technology (IT) and applied science areas; citizens who have experienced the practical usefulness of a given skill are more likely to recognise its usefulness; only a small number of survey participants would choose to learn in the future through open and distance learning methods; nearly all respondents who reported no interest in work-related learning had low levels of education; and respondents with high levels of education and high-status jobs are the most proactive learning citizens. Show less