Commenting on the publication of the OECD study on continuing education, the Confederation of German Employers' Associations states:

Berlin, 23 April 2021: "Continuing education in Germany thrives on its diversity and flexibility and the high level of commitment shown by employers and their employees. This is also reflected in a participation in continuing education that has been increasing for years and the equally increasing investments in continuing education by companies, most recently 41.3 billion euros in 2019.

The ever faster pace of technological change and the transformation based on it require a corresponding responsiveness on the part of companies and training providers in order to develop tailor-made solutions on site. In this context, needs differ according to sectors and regions.

Greater centralisation, regulation and standardisation of continuing education, as recommended by the OECD, would have precisely the opposite effect. Companies and training providers would be restricted in their room for manoeuvre, and customised individual solutions would be made more difficult by more bureaucracy. In contrast, the best way forward is to network all the relevant players more closely, create synergies, strengthen guidance and coaching for specific target groups and expand flexible continuing education offerings, including in the digital sector."