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Labor Productivity and Vocational Training: Evidence from Europe

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  • Sala, Hector

    (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona)

  • Silva, José I.

    (University of Kent)

Abstract

In this paper we show that vocational training is an important determinant of productivity growth. We construct a multi-country, multi-sectoral dataset, and quantify empirically to what extent vocational training has contributed to increase the growth rate of labor productivity in Europe between 1999 and 2005. We find that one extra hour of training per employee accelerates the rate of productivity growth by around 0.55 percentage points.

Suggested Citation

  • Sala, Hector & Silva, José I., 2011. "Labor Productivity and Vocational Training: Evidence from Europe," IZA Discussion Papers 6171, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp6171
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    Cited by:

    1. Semih Tumen, 2016. "A theory of intra-firm group design," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 45(1), pages 89-102, February.
    2. Javier Ordóñez & Hector Sala & José Silva, 2015. "Real unit labour costs in Eurozone countries: drivers and clusters," IZA Journal of European Labor Studies, Springer;Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 4(1), pages 1-19, December.
    3. Sizhong Sun, 2023. "Firm heterogeneity, worker training and labor productivity: the role of endogenous self-selection," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 59(2), pages 121-133, April.
    4. Andersson, Roland & Nabavi Larijani, Pardis & Wilhelmsson, Mats, 2013. "The impact of vocational education and training on income in Sweden," Working Paper Series 13/4, Royal Institute of Technology, Department of Real Estate and Construction Management & Banking and Finance.
    5. Berislav Žmuk & Ksenija Dumièiæ & Irena Paliæ, 2018. "Forecasting Labour Productivity in the European Union Member States: Is Labour Productivity Changing as Expected?," Interdisciplinary Description of Complex Systems - scientific journal, Croatian Interdisciplinary Society Provider Homepage: http://indecs.eu, vol. 16(3-B), pages 504-523.
    6. René Böheim, 2015. "Betriebliche Weiterbildung in österreichischen Unternehmen," Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft - WuG, Kammer für Arbeiter und Angestellte für Wien, Abteilung Wirtschaftswissenschaft und Statistik, vol. 41(3), pages 335-357.
    7. Alexander Schiersch, 2015. "TFP, Labor Productivity and the (Un)observed Labor Input: Temporary Agency Work," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 1532, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    8. Sarah Wolf & Jonas Teitge & Jahel Mielke & Franziska Schütze & Carlo Jaeger, 2021. "The European Green Deal — More Than Climate Neutrality," Intereconomics: Review of European Economic Policy, Springer;ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics;Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), vol. 56(2), pages 99-107, March.
    9. Judzik, Dario & Sala, Hector, 2015. "The determinants of capital intensity in Japan and the US," Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 78-98.
    10. Schiersch, Alexander, 2016. "Considering the (Un)observed: temporary agency work in productivity estimations," VfS Annual Conference 2016 (Augsburg): Demographic Change 145749, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    11. Girum Abebe & Tigabu Degu & Gebrehiwot Ageba, 2018. "What drives productivity change in the manufacturing sector? Evidence from the metalworking industry in Ethiopia," Working Papers 020, Policy Studies Institute.
    12. Iacopo Odoardi, 2020. "Can parents’ education lay the foundation for reducing the inactivity of young people? A regional analysis of Italian NEETs," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 37(1), pages 307-336, April.
    13. Carlo Jaeger, 2014. "Choice for China: What Role for Vocational Education in Green Growth?," China & World Economy, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 22(5), pages 55-75, September.
    14. Heshmati, Almas & Rashidghalam, Masoomeh, 2016. "Labour Productivity in Kenyan Manufacturing and Service Industries," IZA Discussion Papers 9923, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    continuous vocational training; labor productivity growth;

    JEL classification:

    • E22 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Investment; Capital; Intangible Capital; Capacity
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • O41 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - One, Two, and Multisector Growth Models

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