Just one in three workers (33%) say their employer offers regular training opportunities, according to new polling published by the TUC today (Saturday).
And one in four workers (24%) say that no training is offered at their workplace at all apart from a new starters’ induction.
The poll, of more than 3,000 working adults, shows the problem is worst in the service sector, where just one in four get training opportunities.
White collar workers (social grades A and B) are twice as likely (40% versus 21%) to get training opportunities than in those in blue collar roles (grades D and E). And young workers (18-24 year olds) miss out on training most.
The TUC says employers not helping their workers get new skills is a key factor behind Britain’s productivity crisis. EU employers spend double the amount UK employers do on improving workforce skills and typically have much higher productivity levels. And the OECD warned last month that Britain’s poor skills record was holding down productivity.
The poll also reveals that many workers feel they are not listened to at work:
Staff feeling they don’t have a voice at work is also a big problem, according to the TUC. Britain currently ranks 26th (second-last) among EU countries for workers’ participation in companies. Low employee engagement is estimated to cost the economy billions every year in lower productivity.
TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:
“Too many people are stuck in jobs where there’s no chance to get on in life.
“It’s about time managers started to wake up, invest in their workers’ skills and listen to their workers’ opinions.
“Companies that train and listen to their workforces perform better and hold on to talented staff.
“The short-sighted approach of too many employers has blighted the UK for years. And it is stifling productivity as we head towards Brexit.
“The TUC’s Great Jobs Agenda sets out what we need to do as a country to make every job a great job.”
Notes to editors:
- GQR Research conducted an online poll of 3,287 respondents in work in Great Britain, during 11-24 August 2017. The results were weighted to the national profile of working people, by age, gender, ethnicity, region and job characteristics: full/part time contract, public/private sector and industry.
- The TUC’s Great Jobs Agenda is calling on employers to ensure workers have:
– Worker participation index among EU countries
Rank |
Country |
1 |
Denmark |
2 |
Sweden |
3 |
Finland |
4 |
Slovenia |
5 |
Luxembourg |
6 |
Netherlands |
7 |
Austria |
8 |
Germany |
9 |
Slovakia |
10 |
Czech Republic |
11 |
Spain |
12 |
France |
13 |
Hungary |
14 |
Belgium |
15 |
Malta |
16 |
Ireland |
17 |
Greece |
18 |
Poland |
19 |
Cyprus |
20 |
Portugal |
21 |
Italy |
22 |
Romania |
23 |
Estonia |
24 |
Bulgaria |
25 |
Latvia |
26 |
United Kingdom |
27 |
Lithuania |
TUC press office
media@tuc.org.uk
020 7467 1248
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