Women need access to more training opportunities, research shows

Research from professional training provider The Knowledge Academy has highlighted the need for more training opportunities for the whole workforce.

The research looked at data from EU statistics organisation Eurostat alongside a survey of more than 6,000 adults carried out by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills. They found that European countries are more likely to provide training opportunities for men than women.

Access

The research found that just six in ten women were being provided with access to training opportunities in the workplace, compared with eight in ten men. However, the training gap is not as severe in the UK, with 68 per cent of women receiving training, compared to 74 per cent of men.

The research identified the possibilities for training gaps, with more women in part-time employment being linked to why they receive fewer training opportunities. Out of all the countries included in the study, 44 per cent of women work part-time, compared to just 13 per cent of men.

Over 80 per cent of workers who received training said it had a positive outcome, while 61 per cent believe it was necessary to learn new skills and boost their career progression.

Benefits

According to CIPD Skills Adviser Lizzie Crowley, there are well-known benefits to providing high-quality training, as it increases job satisfaction, reduces turnover, and supports career progression, among other things.

“Yet unfortunately, as this research shows, access is not equally shared and women appear to suffer not just a pay penalty when returning to work following childbirth but also a training penalty. This has clear implications for their progression in the workplace and highlights the need for inclusive access to training opportunities for the whole workforce, including those who may be on part-time or flexible contracts,” she said.