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The capability to aspire for continuing training in France : The role of the environment shaped by corporate training policy

Marion Lambert (Training and Certification Department, Centre d’études et de Recherche sur les Qualifications (Céreq), Marseille, France)
Josiane Vero (Training and Certification Department, Centre d’études et de Recherche sur les Qualifications (Céreq), Marseille, France)

International Journal of Manpower

ISSN: 0143-7720

Article publication date: 5 July 2013

688

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the French reform of employees’ access to lifelong learning by addressing the issue of the relationship between corporate training policy and employees’ capability to aspire for learning.

Design/methodology/approach

The investigation is based on the French linked employer‐employee survey DIFES1, which allows for responses from employees and human resource management to be analysed together. From a mixed ascending hierarchical clustering, the paper highlights the different ways in which the reform was applied within firms, and identifies capability‐friendly backgrounds. From bivariate probit models, it examines what factors affect employees’ capability to aspire.

Findings

First, the results identify 10.5 per cent of French firms as capability‐friendly. Second, it reveals that the capability to aspire is even more influenced by the environment as shaped by the corporate training policy than by professional pathways, occupational groups and other determinants, whilst training experiences themselves have no influence. Third, it raises the key issue of capability for voice as a matter of fundamental importance.

Research limitations/implications

Because of the cross‐sectional nature of the survey, the research is not able to address the temporal dynamics of the capability to aspire, how it evolves over time.

Practical implications

In contrast to political pronouncements attributing employees’ lack of aspiration to a personal inclination, the results show how corporate training policies may increase employees’ capability to aspire for training by making it a collective issue and provide insights to combat adaptive preferences.

Originality/value

The research provides, for the first time, an understanding of the relationship between corporate training strategies and the capability to aspire.

Keywords

Citation

Lambert, M. and Vero, J. (2013), "The capability to aspire for continuing training in France : The role of the environment shaped by corporate training policy", International Journal of Manpower, Vol. 34 No. 4, pp. 305-325. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJM-05-2013-0091

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2013, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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