Job-Related Education and Training among Younger Workers

Abstract

This paper examines younger workers' job-relevant post-secondary education, formal on-the-job and informal on-the-job training. Using data from a panel study of 1985 Edmonton high school and university graduates, we examine the extent to which individuals who made the school-to-work transition during the late 1980s are actively participating in their own labor market upgrading. We also use employees' perceptions to document the content and usefulness of this education and training. Our data suggest that job-relevant skills are obtained from a diverse combination of sources within workplaces and educational institutions. We conclude by exploring the policy implications of these findings in the context of debates about the link between human resource development and economic competitiveness.