This paper analyses the level and distribution of employer-funded education and training that employees receive, using data collected by Statistics New Zealand in the first quarter of 2008.
Thirty-one percent of employees had received some employer-funded education or training in the previous 12 months. The measure incorporates all forms of formal education and training but not informal training (such as learning on the job).
Of those who studied or trained, 21 percent studied or trained for 1 day or less during the year as a whole, and two-thirds did so for 5 days or less, implying that most courses were relatively short.
Based on the survey results, a number of points can be made about the distribution of employer-funded learning:
- The rate of participation and the amount of training undertaken is similar for men and women.
- Europeans and Māori have similar rates of training, but Pacific and Asian employees are less likely to receive training funded by their employer.
- More highly educated workers are more likely to receive training than those with little education, and they also tend to undertake more hours of training.
- The more hours an employee works, the more likely he or she is to receive training.
- Employees who work for small organisations (those with 20 or fewer employees) are less likely to receive training than those who work for medium-sized or large organisations.
- Employees who work for publicly owned or non-profit organisations are more likely to receive training than those who work for private firms.