On-the-job training is critical to any enterprise
But how and why employers train employees remains something of a mystery
especially in Australia, where research on the subject appears outdated
To provide a fresh look, researchers surveyed employers across several industries
including government and community services
retail
and manufacturing
Reasons for training seemed to agree with findings reported in older studies
But some new trends emerged
such as an accelerated need to master new technologies
and an increased focus on business strategy—
indications of a continuously changing workplace across the board
And while financial constraints present a major barrier to training, companies report doing more training than they did five years ago
with the amount of training not necessarily linked to the size of an organization
Although comparative studies with other countries are needed to tease out further trends
these findings could help organizations make more cost-effective decisions and formulate better business plans
Smith, Callan, Tuck & Smith. "Employer training in Australia: Current practices and concerns." International Journal of Training and Development (2019).