Organisational Environments and Young Workers' Orientation to Learn

Rapid advances in information technology, changing workplace structures and labour shortages have increased the need for employees to be multi-skilled, adaptable and self-directed learners. However, with an international agenda f or lifelong learning and capability development there are concerns about persistent social and labour market inequities, and low levels of education and literacy of some workers. Moreover, little is known about young people's beliefs and attitudes towards learning during their early years in the labour market. Accordingly researchers have called for the need to develop the capabilities of lower-skilled employees and young workers from lower socio-economic backgrounds - employees who are at risk of being overlooked in a knowledge-driven economy. This paper examines relevant international and New Zealand research and indicates an agenda f or research. In particular, it illustrates the need to stimulate the learning orientations of less-qualified younger workers. A model for exploring the relationship between organisational environments and young workers’ learning-related beliefs and attitudes is presented.