Abstract
Lifelong learning (LLL) is a crucial strategy for the development of human capital, particularly in the face of challenges such as an aging population, a significant decrease in birth rates, and the outflow of qualified personnel, which pose a threat to the national labor market. The objective of this article is to examine the factors that influence LLL and assess the specific impact of regional variables that reflect infrastructure quality, access to social services, cultural development, and crime rates. This study utilizes data from a Rosstat survey on the well-being of the population, which was conducted in all Russian regions in 2022. Research methods include exploratory factor analysis, regression analysis of the Mincer equation with regional variables, and the estimation of logistic regression coefficients. The dependent variable in this analysis is a binary variable indicating participation in LLL. The findings reveal that LLL has a significantly positive effect on the income of the employed population. The likelihood of participating in LLL is influenced by the level of social engagement, various individual characteristics of respondents, as well as a range of regional factors. Limited access to essential social services and inadequate infrastructure have a negative impact on the likelihood of LLL participation, while the level of cultural development does not show statistically significant effects. The estimated results are consistent across all regions. Furthermore, the perceived level of crime also positively correlates with the likelihood of LLL participation. This may be attributed to education being perceived as a means of social mobility and enhanced job security. The subjective assessment of crime is relatively high in populations with high education attainment and income levels, which are the primary individual determinants of LLL participation.