Course participation, Labour force survey, 2000

Compared with the same quarter the year before, attendance of courses in 2nd quarter 2000 was down 1 percentage point, to 11 per cent. The decline corresponded to 21 000 employees. There is reason to believe that the strikes that took place in 2nd quarter 2000 led to the reduction in course taking in this quarter.

Little education little participation in courses

Educational background is still a major factor in course participation. For employees with an education on primary school level course participation has fallen from 7 per cent in 1996 to 4 per cent in 2000. Last year more than half of employees with an education on university level went on courses (52 per cent), against 46-48 per cent in previous years. Female employees with an education on university level have the highest course participant rate, with 55 per cent. Male employees with an education on secondary school level have had the biggest decline from 11 per cent in 1999 to 8 per cent in 2000.

Part-time employees on courses the least

Nine of 10 course participants work full-time. Of all full-time employees, 12 per cent went on a course last year, a decline of 1 percentage point compared with previous years. Seven per cent of part-time employees went on courses, about the same as the year before.

Most courses in financial intermediation

Seventeen per cent of employees in financial intermediation (services) took courses last year, against 18 per cent in 1999. In education, health and other services, course participation was 13 per cent, against 14 per cent in 1999. In mining, manufacturing etc., the share of employees who took courses fell by 1 percentage point compared with 1999, and is now 8 per cent. The manufacturing industries were the most affected by the strikes in the 2nd quarter.

Many managers take courses

Employees in the occupational major group professionals take the most courses: 19 per cent of employees attended courses in both 2nd quarter 1999 and 2000. Among managers, 13 percent took courses in 2000, a decline of 4 percentage points. During the same period, course attendance among clerks fell from 11 to 8 per cent, and from 10 to 8 per cent among craft and related trades workers. .

Young men and older women seldom on courses

There has been a decline in course attendance in all age groups, except for women aged 16-29. For men in the same age group course attendance was 2 per cent lower, i.e. 7 per cent. Women aged 30-54 still have the highest course attendance rate, with 12 per cent. Three out of four who went on curses attended short courses, i.e. courses lasting less than one week. Eight per cent were enrolled in courses lasting a year or longer.

About the statistics:

The figures include only courses that employees were paid to attend. What counts as a course or education is based on the evaluation of the respondent.