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Recent trends in engineering and construction skill formation - UK and Germany compared

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  • Steedman, H.

Abstract

Accurate accounting for annual flows of vocational qualifications by sector of economic activity has been greatly impeded by the data collection methods put in place since the setting up of the National Council for Vocational Qualifications (NCVQ) in 1986. Using unpublished data from a variety of sources, the paper concludes that, allowing for differences in the size engineering and construction sectors in the two countries, Britain continues to lag well behind Germany in the production of intermediate level engineering skills and in craft qualifications in the building trades. Assessments of the relative quality of the NVQ Level 2 in Construction and the German construction apprenticeship show the standard of practical competence acquired to be similar in both countries. The standard of the German tests of technical knowledge and of mathematics was judged to be well above the building trade craft level in Britain. Unlike their German counterparts, British construction and engineering trainees awarded NVQ 2 and NVQ 3 qualifications are no longer obliged to pass externally set and marked tests in occupationally-related technical skill and knowledge mathematics. It appears that Britain is still some way from closing the skills gap with Germany in engineering and in the building trades despite sacrificing rigour in assessment and the breadth and technical knowledge base of traditional skills training programmes and concentrating instead on work-related practical competences.

Suggested Citation

  • Steedman, H., 1997. "Recent trends in engineering and construction skill formation - UK and Germany compared," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 20331, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:20331
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    File URL: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/20331/
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. repec:nsr:niesrd:34 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Steedman, Hilary, 1992. "Mathematics in vocational youth training for the building trades in Britain, France and Germany," National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) Discussion Papers 9, National Institute of Economic and Social Research.
    3. Prais,S. J., 1995. "Productivity, Education and Training," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521556675, January.
    4. Geoff Mason & Bart van Ark & Karin Wagner, 1994. "Productivity, Product Quality and Workforce Skills: Food Processing in Four European Countries," National Institute Economic Review, National Institute of Economic and Social Research, vol. 147(1), pages 62-83, February.
    5. Olivier Bertrand & Andy Green & Ansgar Richter & Marcus Rubin & Hilary Steedman & Klaus Weber, 1997. "Assessment, Qualifications And Standards: UK Compared To France, Germany, Singapore And The US," CEP Reports 05, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
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    Cited by:

    1. Pull, Kerstin & Schneider, Martin, 1998. "Beschäftigungs- und Lohndynamik in hochqualifizierten Unternehmen," Quint-Essenzen 54, University of Trier, Institute for Labour Law and Industrial Relations in the European Community (IAAEG).
    2. Linda Clarke & Christine Wall, 1998. "UK construction skills in the context of European developments," Construction Management and Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(5), pages 553-567.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • R14 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Land Use Patterns
    • J01 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics: General

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