Recent research by Intelligence Group shows that only one in five workers has been trained the past three years and obtained a certificate. The group that chooses to train, choose for programs that make them more valuable for their present work. Programs that focus on knowledge and skills that improve job opportunities outside their field, followed by 32 percent. However, it is mainly the unemployed who choose to do these programs. Increasing a workers' employability seems not be among the priorities of both employees and employers.
Increasing labour market opportunities
It appears that there exist vulnerable groups in the labour market, where significant proportions have had no training. These groups include the unemployed (86 percent), low educated labourers (88 percent) and candidates over-50 (86 percent). Only 29 percent opt for courses that increase their employment opportunities. This is particularly worrying, as employment opportunities are primarily determined by the activities of a candidate. The demand for a particular candidate is considered by their skills and abilities and then by their age. Candidates who have a lack of skills and abilities are discriminated against the strongest. Earlier studies performed by Intelligence Group showed that if there is discrimination, more than 60 percent of respondents cite age as the core reason.
employability
According to Maaike Kooter, lead of Project Employability at Intelligence Group, the outcome of this nestest study is noteworthy: “The labour mismatches arise due to the lack of the right skills and training. Education is crucial in this rapidly changing labour market in order to keep your job opportunities up to date. Now it appears that the vast majority have not taken part in training for the past three years. That is worrying for the employability of the Dutch population, but also for employers who scream bloody murder for professionals that they can not find.”