Worker Beliefs about Firm Training

Hanna Brosch (), Philipp Lergetporer () and Florian Schoner ()
Additional contact information
Hanna Brosch: Technical University of Munich
Philipp Lergetporer: Technical University of Munich
Florian Schoner: ifo Institute, University of Munich

No 18186, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: Firm training is key to meeting changing skill demands, yet little is known about the role of workers’ beliefs in shaping training participation. In a survey of 3,701 workers in Germany, we document that they expect substantial returns to firm training – both in terms of earnings and non-pecuniary outcomes such as promotion chances, job task complexity, or enjoyment. These beliefs predict actual and intended training participation. Lower-skilled workers anticipate smaller non-pecuniary returns, partly explaining their lower uptake. An information treatment addressing return beliefs significantly increases training intentions among lower-skilled workers, suggesting that targeting beliefs may help narrow participation gaps between lower- and higher-skilled workers.

Keywords: human capital; skill mismatch; firm training; beliefs; survey (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D83 I21 J24 J31 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025-10
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-lma
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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