Participation in continuing vocational training
In the light of demographic development, accelerated technological progress and increasing globalisation, the general assumption is that lifelong learning will gain in importance compared to initial training and that there will need to be an increase in relevant activities in order to enable skills needs to be met in future.
Responsibility for greater commitment to continuing training is perceived to lie with both individuals and companies, since both sides (may) draw benefits from lifelong learning. Notwithstanding this, a long period of stagnation in the continuing training behaviour of both these parties was clearly discernible. Policy objectives were not met, although the latest measurements of participation in continuing training have indicated an increase. Considerable disparities can also be observed with regard to attitude towards participation. Smaller companies are, for example, less likely than larger companies to offer their employees continuing training. Whether staff are considered or not also depends on their occupational position. And those with better prior learning have a greater degree of participation than others in continuing training activities.
BIBB regularly evaluates various surveys and indicators of company and individual participation in continuing training and investigates the influencing factors. The measurement methods themselves are also analysed, and differences between the various measurements are scrutinised.