Just one in four non-union employees have taken part in any job-related training in the past three months, new research has found.
The study, conducted by the Trades Union Congress (TUC), revealed that 26 per cent of non-union members had been involved in any vocational training, compared with 39 per cent of union members.
Workplace training, such as Modern Apprenticeships or Employer Training Pilots, is seen as key in solving the lack of skills in UK businesses.
Around one in four British firms suffer from poorly-trained staff, with an estimated 500,000 vacancies existing across the country because bosses can’t find suitable candidates.
The revelation that a quarter of employees train at small businesses, where the vast majority of workers are not union members, will make disappointing reading for the government, which has launched countless initiatives over recent years to encourage firms to embrace workplace learning.
The TUC, which has attempted closer involvement with small firms for several years, said that union learning reps are invaluable in raising workplace skills, claiming that businesses that take on reps enjoy far higher productivity levels.
Brendan Barber, general secretary of the TUC, said that employers will not be able to increase skills without paying them to take time off to train.
“Learning at work is the high road to better business and better jobs. Unions are using their unique role in the workplace to raise the skills levels of UK workers so that businesses can better compete in the global economy.
“But employers must do more and the first step should be to provide paid time off for employees to achieve a qualification equivalent to five GCSEs at A to C,” he said.
