The influence of demographic characteristics on the effectiveness of public administration training programs

Abstract

This paper examines the influence of demographic characteristics on the effectiveness of the training programs in public administration in the Republic of Serbia. Specifically, the aim is to evaluate the effectiveness of the training programs in public administration and to analyse how factors such as age, gender, educational level, years of work experience and job title influence the outcomes of training initiatives. The sample of the study includes 1,040 public administration employees in Serbia who participated in at least one training program organized by the National Academy of Public Administration in 2022. The primary data was collected through a survey questionnaire administered in October 2023. The effectiveness of the training programs is assessed according to the extent to which they contribute to achieving the desired objectives. The statistical analyses involve descriptive statistics, reliability assessments and statistical tests to identify differences between demographic groups. The research results indicate that age, gender and education level have no influence on the effectiveness of the training programs in public administration. However, training effectiveness is significantly influenced by professional experience and job titles in public administration. Respondents with up to 15 years of work experience rated the effectiveness of the training programs higher than those with more than 15 years of work experience. In addition, government officials rated the effectiveness of the training programs they participated in significantly higher than other employees and managers in public administration. The key policy recommendations that emerge from the research relate to matching training programs to job experience, differentiating training for different job titles, leveraging experienced employees and an inclusive training environment.