This chapter focuses on the importance of informal learning in the workplace for those aged over 50. Despite often having considerable experience, it is still essential for older workers to maintain and enhance their skills and knowledge. With the proportion of older people in the workforce rising, understanding their educational needs is increasingly important to employers. The chapter investigates the workplace learning of IT engineers in a public sector organisation. Using a bespoke survey and creating scales to analyse specific learning activities, the aims and expectations of older workers were compared to their younger colleagues. Results show that older workers are equally motivated to learn at work but focus on acquiring content rather than certification. Many surveys, including the UK Labour Force Survey, use courses and certification as proxies for all learning undertaken. As the forms of learning favoured by older learners (non-formal and especially informal learning) do not generally lead to a qualification, workplace learning by older workers is under-reported. This can hinder efforts to facilitate older people participating in the labour market as well as fuel negative stereotypes about older workers not wanting to learn. The chapter concludes that there is a need for greater consideration of the workplace learning of the expanding older workforce, in particular the significant role played by informal learning. © 2017 Nova Science Publishers, Inc.
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