Skills Training Benefits Workers: NI Report

Despite fears to the contrary, over two thirds of workers in Northern Ireland have been receiving appropriate skills training.

The Department for Employment and Learning has just published the findings of a research report looking at work skills of employees in Northern Ireland.

'Skills at Work in Northern Ireland 2006' presents the findings of a survey of jobs, where the main features of the jobs are reported by the employees themselves.

The report examines the distribution of job skills among those in work and compares job skills in Northern Ireland with those elsewhere in the UK.

Over 65% of Northern Ireland employees have received some form of training in the year prior to being surveyed.

They reported that the impact of training on work performance was high. For example, nine out of 10 respondents said that it was important for keeping up-to-date with developments in the job; that it had helped them to improve their work practices; and that it had improved their skills.

It also found that, in 2006, three out of 10 jobs required an NVQ Level 4 or above qualification for entry.

However, a quarter of jobs (25.1%) required no qualifications on entry.

Computers are used in 68.1% of jobs in Northern Ireland and in 41.1% of jobs, computer usage is 'essential' for the job, and in 14.5% of jobs it involves using computers in 'complex' or 'advanced' ways.

In Northern Ireland, one in two (50%) respondents claimed to have 'a great deal' of influence over their work effort, while two out of five (42.2%) claimed to have 'a great deal' of influence over quality standards.

The Department report aims to help inform an interim assessment of Success through Skills, the Skills Strategy for Northern Ireland.

It will also be used to establish a benchmark from which to monitor progress/change over time and to make useful comparisons with other UK regions.

(BMcC)