European companies need more skills yet offer less training

According to the latest figures from the European Continuing Vocational Training Survey (CVTS-3) covering the EU-27 and Norway, companies with 10 or more employees provided less training in 2005 than in 1999.  But why are employers not offering their workers more training? How many companies anticipate future skill needs? Is the sector or size of the enteprise more relevant? How useful and equitable are financial incentives, and other policy measures, in encouraging lifelong learning in the workplace?

This and other issues are discussed in Cedefop’s analysis of the third European Continuing Vocational Training Survey (CVTS-3), Employer-provided vocational training in Europe: Evaluation and interpretation of the third continuing vocational training survey.

While the overall picture in Europe is one of stagnation, some countries are doing better than others. A composite measure of performance divides countries into high, medium and low performers.

• Generally, Eastern Europe gained ground but Western Europe’s performance worsened.
• Slovenia has shown the biggest improvement, going from a low performer to a borderline high performer.
• All the high performers of 1999 except France (the Netherlands, Sweden and Finland) lost significant ground by 2005.
• The Czech Republic has joined the high performers.
• Among the medium performers, Belgium and Germany both slipped a little.
• Romania, the lowest performer in 1999, has improved in all dimensions, while Spain and Portugal also showed improvements.
• Greece’s performance further deteriorated between 1999 and 2005, placing the country last in the EU-27.