Off-the-job learning in cities

Abstract

Cities are characterized by high skill levels and workers improve their skills through learning. This article presents novel stylized facts on learning behavior and cities. I use Japanese survey data that provide distinctively rich first-hand information about the frequency, purpose, and subject of off-the-job learning. First, people engage in learning more frequently in denser cities. Second, people in denser cities are more likely to learn to gain new employment or cultivate themselves. Third, while cities tend to facilitate learning of skills required in skill-intensive sectors, what people learn depends on the local demand for skills.