What keeps low- and high-qualified workers competitive: Exploring the influence of job characteristics and self-directed learning orientation on work-related learning

Gijbels, David [University of Antwerp] Raemdonck, Isabel [UCL] Vervecken, D. Van Herck, Jan

Based on the Demand-Control-Support model (American Journal of Public Health 78(10):1336–1342, 1988; Administrative Science Quarterly 24:285–308, 1979; Healthy work, stress, productivity and the reconstruction of working life, 1990) and the research by Raemdonck (A study in lower-qualified employees in Flanders, 2006), the present chapter aims to investigate the influence of job characteristics such as job demands, job control, social support at work on the one hand and self-directed learning orientation on the other hand on the work-related learning behaviour of the worker. The chapter presents results from two studies conducted among students in centres for part-time vocational education and among employees working in the ICT-department of a large company, both located in Flanders. A questionnaire using scales adapted from validated instruments was used. It was assumed that high scores for self-directed learning orientation and high scores for job demands, job control and social support would be associated with more work-related learning behaviour. The results indicated that only a self-directed learning orientation predicted the work-related learning behaviour to a significant extent.