Old dogs, new tricks: training mature‐aged manufacturing workers
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine the employment and training of mature‐aged workers, so that suggestions for improving training for mature‐aged workers may be offered.
Design/methodology/approach
Six expert interviews were carried out by telephone, and three case studies involving company site visits were completed. Each company case study involved interviews with managers, trainers and mature‐aged workers. The study was confined to the manufacturing industry.
Findings
Mature‐aged workers bring many advantages to workplaces and some employers show a definite preference for them over younger workers; but in some cases training needs to take account of lack of confidence and literacy and health issues. However, there is great diversity among mature‐aged workers.
Research limitations/implications
The research is confined to shop‐floor workers in manufacturing, and does not address training of mature‐aged managers and professionals. The research is small‐scale but provides new insights, and importantly the voices of the workers themselves.
Practical implications
The paper identifies managerial and training practices that can immediately be implemented.
Originality/value
The paper identifies some issues that can be taken up at a policy level as well as within companies. For example, the preference for qualification‐based training at a national level is not necessarily consistent with what mature‐aged workers prefer.
Keywords
Citation
Smith, E., Smith, A. and Selby Smith, C. (2010), "Old dogs, new tricks: training mature‐aged manufacturing workers", Journal of Workplace Learning, Vol. 22 No. 5, pp. 277-291. https://doi.org/10.1108/13665621011053190
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2010, Emerald Group Publishing Limited