Today’s competitive job market means people are in danger of becoming stuck in unfulfilling roles unless they have the right qualifications, according to research by Home Learning College. Three quarters of respondents say it is harder to move jobs nowadays without appropriate study credentials. This sentiment peaks among the over 45s at 87%.

The belief that qualifications hold the key to career success explains why 59% of British adults would consider further study to enhance their current job prospects. These figures have been released by Home Learning College to coincide with Adult Learners’ Week, which runs from 14 to 20 May 2011. This annual event is co-ordinated by the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) to celebrate learning and inspire people to try something new.

“Until a few years ago strong transferable skills were often enough to support a move into a new professional position,” says Dave Snow, Academic Director at Home Learning College. “This created a fluid job market where people where considered on their experience as much as their qualifications.

“The recent economic climate has dramatically changed this by flooding the job market with rising numbers of prospective candidates for each vacancy. As a result, recruiters have become more prescriptive in their employment practices, often demanding specific qualifications for roles which may previously have been open to those without a related study history.

“The most effective way to respond to this trend is by gaining a relevant professional qualification to enhance your CV. Professional accreditations exist for most industries and can often be gained in a relatively short period of time when compared against academic courses such as GCSEs, A Levels or degrees. Modern distance learning techniques also mean that study can be fitted around even the busiest lifestyles.”

For a full list of Home Learning College’s professional distance learning courses visit out training courses pages.