Barriers to Non-Formal Professional Training in Spain in Periods of Economic Growth and Crisis. An Analysis with Special Attention to the Effect of the Previous Human Capital of Workers

Abstract

The IEB research group in Human Capital aims at promoting research in the Economics of Education. The main objective of this group is to foster research related to the education and training of individuals and to promote the analysis of education systems and policies from an economic perspective. Some topics are particularly relevant: Evaluation of education and training policies; monetary and non-monetary effects of education; analysis of the international assessments of the skills of the young (PISA, PIRLS, TIMMS) and adult populations (PIAAC, IALS); education and equality, considering the inclusion of the disabled in the education system; and lifelong learning. This group puts special emphasis on applied research and on work that sheds light on policy-design issues. Moreover, research focused in Spain is given special consideration. Disseminating research findings to a broader audience is also an aim of the group. This research group enjoys the support from the IEB-Foundation.The Barcelona Institute of Economics (IEB) is a research centre at the University of Barcelona (UB) which specializes in the field of applied economics. The IEB is a foundation funded by the following institutions: Applus, Abertis, Ajuntament de Barcelona, Diputació de Barcelona, Gas Natural and La Caixa. The IEB working papers represent ongoing research that is circulated to encourage discussion and has not undergone a peer review process. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and not those of IEB. Documents de Treball de l'IEB 2014/12 BARRIERS TO NON-FORMAL PROFESSIONAL TRAINING IN SPAIN IN PERIODS OF ECONOMIC GROWTH AND CRISIS. AN ANALYSIS WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE EFFECT OF THE PREVIOUS HUMAN CAPITAL OF WORKERSJorge Calero, Josep-Oriol Escardíbul ABSTRACT: We analyze the determining factors of access to non-formal professional training in Spain and their evolution in recent years. Specifically, a comparison is made between a moment during a period of economic growth (2007) and the current crisis period (2012). The data used is from the Economically Active Population Survey. The sample is divided according to gender and interaction variables are included to analyze the differential effects of human capital on the probability of receiving training in the two periods considered. The hypothesis is that there are significant barriers that make access to non-formal professional training difficult (we focus on previous human capital available) and that these barriers have not ceased to operate during the economic crisis.JEL Codes: H52, I21

The role of non-formal lifelong learning at different points in the business cycle

“…A more in-depth look at the results in Table III shows that they are in line with the existing literature, identifying initial education and age as relevant factors to explain learning investment in later life (Jenkins et al , 2003; Biagetti and Scicchitano, 2013; Ingham et al , 2017; and, specific to the Spanish context, Calero and Escardibul, 2014). In this case, participation in non-formal lifelong learning is strongly correlated with educational level (both for the unemployed and the employed).…”

“…Nevertheless, the impact of the recession on household income forces people to give up the idea of lifelong learning activities in order to devote themselves more actively to labour-related activities (seeking employment or actually working in jobs which they would not have taken during an upturn). In addition, they also have to face tighter credit restrictions for undertaking lifelong learning activities, restrictions which might prove even greater the lower the likelihood of finding a job, in other words the greater their need for new skills (Calero and Escardibul, 2014). As for firms, financial restrictions might also delay any investment in equipment and new technologies and, as a result, lead to cutbacks in training (Leuven 2005).…”