Continuity and change: employers’ training practices and partnerships with training providers

Q1.12 Over the last five years, in your opinion, have the skill needs of your business/organisation:

	Firm Size
	1-49 employees		50-99 employees		100-499 employees		500+ employees
	N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%
Increased rapidly	9	18.4	1	5.9	10	23.8	9	16.7
Increased steadily	25	51.0	9	52.9	26	61.9	38	70.4
Undergone no real change	14	28.6	6	35.3	6	14.3	7	13.0
Declined	1	2.0	1	5.9	0	0.0	0	0.0

Q1.13 Over the last five years, in your opinion, has the environment for your business/organisation:

	Firm Size
	1-49 employees		50-99 employees		100-499 employees		500+ employees
	N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%
Become much more competitive	7	14.3	4	23.5	15	35.7	20	37.0
Become somewhat more competitive	26	53.1	8	47.1	18	42.9	21	38.9
Undergone no real change	15	30.6	4	23.5	9	21.4	12	22.2
Become less competitive	1	2.0	1	5.9	0	0.0	1	1.9

Q2.1 Compared with similar businesses/organisations in your industry, do you think you do:

	Firm Size
	1-49 employees		50-99 employees		100-499 employees		500+ employees
	N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%
More training	12	24.5	4	23.5	15	35.7	23	42.6
About the same amount of training	29	59.2	10	58.8	19	45.2	23	42.6
Less training	8	16.3	3	17.6	8	19.0	8	14.8

Q2.2 Over the last five years, in your opinion, has the amount of training that your business/organisation has provided to its employees:

	Firm Size
	1-49 employees		50-99 employees		100-499 employees		500+ employees
	N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%
Increased greatly	4	8.2	2	11.8	9	21.4	9	16.7
Increased somewhat	14	28.6	12	70.6	16	38.1	24	44.4
Stayed about the same	28	57.1	3	17.6	13	31.0	13	24.1
Decreased	3	6.1	0	0.0	4	9.5	8	14.8

Q2.3 In your business/organisation, how important are the following reasons for the training of your existing staff?

		Firm Size
		1-49 employees		50-99 employees		100-499 employees		500+ employees
		N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%
New technology	Not important	3	6.3	1	5.9	2	4.9	3	5.7
	Of some importance	22	45.8	8	47.1	22	53.7	20	37.7
	Very important	23	47.9	8	47.1	17	41.5	30	56.6
OH&S requirements	Not important	13	26.5	3	17.6	3	7.5	1	1.9
	Of some importance	22	44.9	6	35.3	15	37.5	23	43.4
	Very important	14	28.6	8	47.1	22	55.0	29	54.7
Licensing requirements	Not important	10	20.8	5	29.4	5	12.2	6	11.3
	Of some importance	15	31.3	6	35.3	17	41.5	20	37.7
	Very important	23	47.9	6	35.3	19	46.3	27	50.9
Other regulatory requirements	Not important	10	20.8	3	17.6	4	9.8	5	9.4
	Of some importance	22	45.8	8	47.1	15	36.6	23	43.4
	Very important	16	33.3	6	35.3	22	53.7	25	47.2
Market pressures	Not important	6	12.8	5	29.4	8	19.5	11	20.8
	Of some importance	25	53.2	7	41.2	17	41.5	21	39.6
	Very important	16	34.0	5	29.4	16	39.0	21	39.6
Quality	Not important	1	2.1	2	11.8	1	2.4	1	1.9
	Of some importance	19	39.6	6	35.3	15	36.6	15	28.3
	Very important	28	58.3	9	52.9	25	61.0	37	69.8
Business strategy	Not important	7	14.3	2	11.8	5	12.2	4	7.5
	Of some importance	20	40.8	10	58.8	14	34.1	23	43.4
	Very important	22	44.9	5	29.4	22	53.7	26	49.1
Demand from employees	Not important	8	16.7	3	17.6	7	17.1	4	7.5
	Of some importance	23	47.9	10	58.8	19	46.3	29	54.7
	Very important	17	35.4	4	23.5	15	36.6	20	37.7
Business/ organisation change	Not important	6	12.5	3	17.6	7	17.1	4	7.5
	Of some importance	23	47.9	9	52.9	17	41.5	24	45.3
	Very important	19	39.6	5	29.4	17	41.5	25	47.2
Required skills are not available on the external labour market	Not important	9	18.8	2	11.8	6	14.3	10	18.9
	Of some importance	22	45.8	10	58.8	20	47.6	25	47.2
	Very important	17	35.4	5	29.4	16	38.1	18	34.0
Other	Not important	37	90.2	11	91.7	24	88.9	37	82.2
	Of some importance	3	7.3	1	8.3	2	7.4	3	6.7
	Very important	1	2.4	0	0.0	1	3.7	5	11.1