Employee development plans insufficient

TALLINN - According to Statistics Estonia, in 2009 most of Estonian employers considered it important for employees to develop their skills and knowledge, but nearly half of employees were not satisfied with the possibilities of professional development offered by employers, reports news agency LETA. Coping with the complicated economic situation depends to a great extent on restoration of the domestic and foreign markets, but also on the readiness of employers and employees for lifelong learning and acquiring new skills and knowledge.

According to the data of Worklife Survey, about 90 percent of employers rated the skills and knowledge of their employees as sufficient for working in the corresponding post, but also considered it important that employees develop their skills and knowledge further. Forty percent of employers were certain that it is necessary to develop employees’ knowledge and skills, 49 percent rather supported this opinion. The readiness of employees to acquire new skills and knowledge was also highly evaluated.

Seventy-five percent of employees considered possibilities to develop professional skills at the workplace as important. At the same time, only less than half were satisfied with the possibilities of professional development offered by the employer. The satisfaction of employees differed by occupation and depended on the place of work – whether a company or a government or local government institution.

Professionals and associate professionals were more satisfied with the possibilities for professional development offered by the employer, while craft workers and workers of elementary occupations were less satisfied. If 70 percent of professionals and associate professionals used the possibilities to develop professional skills offered by the employer during the last 12 months, then the respective indicator for craft workers and workers of elementary occupations was less than 50 percent. Employees of government and local government institutions considered the possibilities of professional development better and also used them more.

Statistics Estonia conducted the Worklife Survey for the first time in 2009. The survey was ordered by the Ministry of Social Affairs. The aim of the survey was to provide an overview about work organization, relationships pertaining to work involving employees, collective working relationships, occupational health and safety, and trends. 1,330 employers and 4,610 employees responded to the survey.