Learning among lower-wage and at-risk workers: The role of personal, organizational, and social resources

Authors

  • Anil Verma University of Toronto
  • Sara Mann University of Guelph

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56105/cjsae.v20i2.1111

Abstract

Lower-wage workers generally report limited access to formal learning opportunities. This paper investigates factors that influence learning among lower-wage workers. Using focus groups and a survey, it examines the role of demographics, self-efficacy, and outcome expectancies related to learning new skills, access to resources, and the moderating role of social capital. Despite their high levels of self-efficacy, expectancies, and motivation to learn, lowerwage workers report a low incidence of training, with only 13% receiving formal training from their employers and only 8% participating in formal training on their own initiative. Although social capital appears to increase the likelihood of participating in learning activities, lower-wage workers tend to report low levels of social capital. These results suggest that lower-wage workers would participate more in formal learning activities if they had better access to learning opportunities and if they had higher levels of social capital.

Résumé

Les petits salariés rapportent généralement avoir peu d’occasions de participer à des activités de formation. Cet article analyse les facteurs influençant l’apprentissage chez les petits salariés. À partir de groupes de discussion et d’un sondage, il s’attarde au rôle des facteurs démographiques, de l’autoefficacité et des attentes liées à l’apprentissage de nouvelles compétence et à l’accessibilité des ressources, et au rôle modérateur du capital social. Malgré leur haut degré d’autoefficacité, leurs attentes et leur motivation à apprendre, peu de formation est offerte aux petits salariés : seulement 13 p. 100 d’entre eux reçoivent de la formation formelle de leur employeur et 8 p. 100 participent à une formation de leur propre initiative. Bien que le capital social semble augmenter la probabilité de participation à des activités d’apprentissage, les petits salariés n’ont généralement pas un niveau élevé de capital social. Ces résultats laissent croire que les petits salariés participeraient davantage à des activités d’apprentissage formel si l’accessibilité à ces formations était facilitée et s’ils possédaient un niveau de capital social plus élevé.

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Published

2007-12-01

How to Cite

Verma, A., & Mann, S. (2007). Learning among lower-wage and at-risk workers: The role of personal, organizational, and social resources. Canadian Journal for the Study of Adult Education, 20(2), 114–129. https://doi.org/10.56105/cjsae.v20i2.1111

Issue

Vol. 20 No. 2 (2007): Special Issue on Work and Lifelong Learning

Section

Articles

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