Norway has a well-established system for adult education and training, with statutory rights to free adult education and programmes for further and continuing education and training in working life, validation of prior learning and free career guidance. The policy focus has recently been mainly on involving the social partners in the lifelong learning to ensure that the education and training for adult learners matches the needs in working life. For a more comprehensive description of the concept of lifelong learning in Norway, see chapter 2.2.

Two educational reforms for children and youth in 1994 and 1997 (‘Reform 94’ and ‘Reform 97’) led to a renewed focus on adult education in Norway, initiated by the social partners, leading to the Competence Reform (1998–2003), which provided study leave for employees, free primary and secondary education for adults, and recognition of prior learning. In 2006, Norway launched the Basic Competence in Working Life (BCWL) programme to help adults lacking basic skills by offering workplace courses. The programme promotes social inclusion, self-esteem, and motivation for further learning. Training is flexible and tailored to the needs of both enterprises and workers. In 2015, a similar program for the voluntary sector was introduced. In 2016, both programs merged into SkillsPlus (‘Kompetansepluss’). Since 2018, workers needing apprenticeships can combine vocational education with basic skills training.

The majority of refugees and immigrants who get a residence permit in Norway have a right and an obligation to attend an introductory course in Norwegian and social studies. The Integration Act (2020) mandates Norwegian language training and social studies for foreign nationals aged 18–67 with residence permits leading to permanent residency. The required tuition hours are replaced by language skill levels, with free training provided for up to three years or 18 months, depending on prior education. 

In 2011, the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research established the National Unit for Lifelong Guidance to coordinate and professionalize career guidance. The goal is to provide high-quality, all-age career guidance services nationwide, recognizing its importance throughout life. Today, free public career guidance centres exist in all counties, along with free online services.

Norway was the first country to sign an agreement with the OECD on the OECD Skills Strategy. A consequence of the OECD Skills Strategy was the Norwegian Strategy for Skills Policy 2017–2021 (‘Kompetansepolitisk strategi’), where the social partners were involved, and the Skills Policy Council (‘Kompetansepolitisk råd’), which has the responsibility of monitoring the implementation of the strategy. The OECD Skills Strategy also led to the establishment of the Norwegian Committee on Skills Needs (‘Kompetansebehovsutvalget’) to develop a national system for analysing, discussing and communicating future skills needs. 

In 2020, the white paper Learning throughout life (‘Lære hele livet’) launched a new skills reform, focusing on the upskilling of the Norwegian workforce at all education levels, and on ensuring that no one becomes outdated due to a lack of competence. This involves measures to bridge the gap between the needs of the labour market and the skills of the workforce. An essential part of this reform is the Tripartite Sectorial Programme for Skills Development (‘Treparts bransjeprogram for kompetanseutvikling’), which is a collaboration between the authorities, the social partners and educational institutions to develop and offer tailored training programmes adapted to the needs of various industries.

A tripartite committee (‘Kompetansereformutvalget’) has investigated how to better facilitate restructuring and learning in the workplace, with the aim of high employment and counteracting increasing inequality.