Public Sector Workers' Willingness to Pay for Education and Training: a Comparison

Abstract

In the context of concerns about skills shortages and an ageing workforce, increased participation in education and training is often seen as a potential stimulant to increased labour force engagement. Despite this, relatively little is known about the trade-offs made in the study and training decisions of Australian workers. In this paper, findings of a study that employed a stated preference technique to develop empirical models of workers' choices are presented. Models are developed that reveal distinct stimulants and barriers for participation in study compared to training for Australian public sector workers.