Polarization in access to work-related training in Britain.

Policy makers across industrialized nations have sought to increaseparticipation in work-related training as a route to improvedcompetitiveness. However, research conducted in Britain during the1990s identified significant differences in participation, suggestingthat processes of labour market polarization were being played outin unequal access to training. This article updates and builds uponthis work through an analysis of British Labour Force Survey data.Our analysis sought to identify continuing inequalities in access totraining and any positive ‘union effect’ on participation (reflectingan increasing interest in the potential for trade unions to facilitateworkplace learning for disadvantaged groups). We found that olderworkers, the lower skilled and unqualified, part-timers andtemporary workers (among others) remained disadvantaged. Tradeunion presence had powerful positive effects on participation. Weconclude that policy makers must continue to work with employersand unions to promote more, and more equitable, access to workrelatedtraining