Barriers to job-related training

Deborah Sussman

• Not everyone who wants or needs job-related training has access to it. In 1997, 1.5 million people (or 7% of Canadians aged 17 and over, excluding full-time students) reported not taking some needed job-related training.
• People between the ages of 35 and 44, those with preschool children, and university graduates had above average rates of unmet job-related training needs, as did full-time workers, and workers in service-producing industries-particularly public administration; finance, insurance and real estate; and education, health and welfare. Above average rates were also found in professional and managerial occupations-particularly natural sciences, engineering and mathematics.
• Being too busy at work was the barrier cited most often by those who faced barriers to job-related training in 1997 (42%), followed closely by expense (40%).
• Being too busy at work was particularly important for people aged 35 to 54; university graduates; and people working in the finance, insurance and real estate industries; in agriculture and other primary industries; and in trade. Those in primary occupations, and in professional and managerial occupations, especially managers and administrators, also reported this barrier more frequently.
• Expense was relatively significant for women; people under 35; those employed in business, commercial and personal service industries; as well as those in service, and medicine and health occupations.
• Lack of child care and other family responsibilities presented a problem for almost one in five people who faced barriers to job-related training. These barriers were particularly significant for people aged 25 to 44 and women-the groups most often responsible for these tasks.

Deborah Sussman is with the Labour and Household Surveys Analysis Division. She can be reached at (613) 951-4226 or deborah.sussman@statcan.gc.ca.