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The COVID-19 pandemic and firms’ E-learning use: implications for inequality in training opportunities

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  • Christoph Müller

    (Institute for Employment Research: Institut fur Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung)

Abstract

This paper investigates whether the adoption of E-learning by firms contributed to offset the decrease in firm-sponsored training during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a novel firm level survey linked with administrative data on the universe of workers within those firms, I study the role of E-learning in firms’ training activities during the crisis. I find that the COVID-19 pandemic substantially decreased firm-sponsored training by up to 11 percentage points. However, firms’ ability to use E-learning nullifies this negative effect. Furthermore, the differential capabilities of firms to apply E-learning might exacerbate already prevalent inequalities in training opportunities.

Suggested Citation

  • Christoph Müller, 2024. "The COVID-19 pandemic and firms’ E-learning use: implications for inequality in training opportunities," Journal for Labour Market Research, Springer;Institute for Employment Research/ Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), vol. 58(1), pages 1-15, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jlabrs:v:58:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1186_s12651-024-00382-x
    DOI: 10.1186/s12651-024-00382-x
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Inequality in firm-financed training; Labor market inequality; COVID-19 pandemic;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • L23 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Organization of Production
    • D23 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Organizational Behavior; Transaction Costs; Property Rights

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