Blending work and learning: the impact of a workplace learning programme on the low-skilled and long term unemployed
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of a workplace learning programme on the low-skilled and long term unemployed. The paper evaluates improvements in skills and attitudes from the workers perspective.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper builds on current literature in the area to design and evaluate a workplace learning programme. Quantitative and qualitative data are used to evaluate staff perceptions.
Findings
Findings indicate that providing a mix of workplace learning, and focused academic content can have an extremely positive impact on the skill-set and mind-set of low-skilled and long term unemployed workers. The effect of this is that workers are more likely to apply for further educational and employment opportunities.
Practical implications
Findings reinforce the view that an integrated approach to tackling long-term unemployment and the up-skilling of workers may be more effective than providing employment initiatives alone.
Originality/value
While statistics on long term unemployment and the vulnerability of low-skilled workers are widely available right across the EU, there is a comparative lack of literature around initiatives designed to tackle these problems, and even less which incorporates the views of workers themselves. This paper provides a unique look at the implementation of a workplace learning programme and its impact on staff.
Keywords
Citation
Tiernan, P. and O’Kelly, J. (2014), "Blending work and learning: the impact of a workplace learning programme on the low-skilled and long term unemployed", Industrial and Commercial Training, Vol. 46 No. 7, pp. 406-414. https://doi.org/10.1108/ICT-05-2014-0030
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2014, Emerald Group Publishing Limited