Survey: Low-wage workers missing out on training

[marmar]

WASHINGTON (AP) — As they struggle to get ahead, many low-wage workers are not taking advantage of job training or educational programs that could help them make the leap to better-paying jobs. They are often skeptical about whether such programs are even worth the trouble, a new survey shows.

In many cases, workers in low-wage positions are not using the training programs their employers offer because they don't even know they exist, the two-part AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey of both workers and employers found. Two-thirds of employers said they offer coaching or mentoring programs and 61 percent provide on-the-job training. But only 36 percent of low-wage workers reported that their employers offer such programs.

The ability to move up the career ladder has become more important as America's economic recovery is fueled by a surge in low-wage jobs at restaurants, health care centers and manufacturing sites. Job training and education can play a major role in helping these workers advance their careers and someday reach middle-class status. At the same time, employers say they invest in job training to retain current workers, reduce turnover and improve the quality of products and services.

Yet the surveys revealed a wide disparity between employers and workers in how they view the importance of training programs. While 83 percent of employers said job training is extremely or very important for upward mobility, only half of low-wage workers felt as strongly about additional training. Similarly, 77 percent of employers rated education as extremely or very important, while only 41 percent of low-wage workers rated it similarly. .................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://news.yahoo.com/survey-low-wage-workers-missing-training-064704617--finance.html

[bluedigger]

1. What better jobs?

What middle class? Are they supposed to compete with college grads for part time hourly positions?

[Vincardog]

2. Yes they are, and then compete with the owners children for the top jobs

[Wounded Bear]

3. The whole job training/education system has gone off the rails....

It's not much more than advertising hype in so many cases. Education has gone for profit, like medicine, and isn't much good for anything other than making money for the wealthy owners.

[TheMastersNemesis]

4. The Dirty Little Secret Is That Good Jobs Are Still Disappearing And Are Being Replaced With Low

paying jobs. Low paying jobs will be 80% of the job market that has been eroding for over 30 years. Remember service economy means low paying jobs that are not full time, pay few or now benefits, and have not job security and no future. So the training thing is a false hope.