Edinburgh Napier University

  Policy makers across industrialized nations have sought to increase
participation in work-related training as a route to improved
competitiveness. However, research conducted in Britain during the
1990s identified significant differences in participation, suggesting
that processes of labour market polarization were being played out
in unequal access to training. This article updates and builds upon
this work through an analysis of British Labour Force Survey data.
Our analysis sought to identify continuing inequalities in access to
training and any positive ‘union effect’ on participation (reflecting
an increasing interest in the potential for trade unions to facilitate
workplace learning for disadvantaged groups). We found that older
workers, the lower skilled and unqualified, part-timers and
temporary workers (among others) remained disadvantaged. Trade
union presence had powerful positive effects on participation. We
conclude that policy makers must continue to work with employers
and unions to promote more, and more equitable, access to workrelated
training.