Job-Related Training, Skill Utilisation, and Job Quality Across Five PIAAC Countries
Abstract
Unequal access to job-related training raises questions about whether training improves work beyond wages. Purpose: This study examined associations between training, workplace skill utilisation, non-pay job quality, and relative earnings across five PIAAC countries. Method: PIAAC Cycle 2 data for 20,521 workers in England, Israel, Korea, Sweden, and Switzerland were analysed using official sampling and replicate weights, plausible values, weighted regressions, mediation, moderation, multilevel models, matching, multiple imputation, and sensitivity tests. Results: Training was positively associated with skill utilisation and job quality. Skill utilisation represented approximately 60% of the adjusted training-job-quality association. Associations were stronger among women and workers with lower literacy and numeracy. Training was positively associated with learning, influence, skill use, and higher relative earnings, but not with greater task discretion. Positive job-quality associations appeared in every country, without significant cross-country differences. Conclusion: Training benefits depend on opportunities to apply skills and on supportive, participatory job design; cross-sectional estimates are interpreted as adjusted associations rather than causal effects.
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References
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.17509/msb.v8i2.104483
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