This report looks at what factors influence the participation of low-skilled and low-paid workers in vocational education and training. Information comes from students, employers, employees and providers in the retail, food-processing and non-residential aged care sectors across four Australian states. It finds that although barriers to training do include lack of money and time to study, many of the challenges related to integrating work, home life, community interests and study. The main driver of training is the need to gain or retain a job, and the costs of participation are high as far as time, money and effort goes. For low-paid workers the financial rewards for training are low.
NCVER