Employee learning motives, perceived learning opportunities and employability activities

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to examine whether employability activities are driven by employee learning motives and their perception of learning opportunities.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected using a closed questionnaire survey from three different profit organizations (N = 405). Hypotheses were tested through hierarchical multiple regression analysis.

Findings

Hierarchical regressions showed that the learning motive “personal development” had a positive relationship with “perceived learning opportunities” and “employability activities,” as hypothesized. “Perceived learning opportunities” did not mediate the relationship between the learning motive “personal development” and “employability activities.” No relationships were found among the learning motives “social pressure,” “perceived learning opportunities” and “employability activities”.

Originality Value

This study is among the first to investigate the motives that employees must engage in individual learning paths. It attempts to predict their self-reported employability activities based on these motives and on the learning opportunities that employees perceive.

Citation

Boomaars, C., Yorks, L. and Shetty, R. (2018), "Employee learning motives, perceived learning opportunities and employability activities", Journal of Workplace Learning, Vol. 30 No. 5, pp. 335-350. https://doi.org/10.1108/JWL-01-2018-0020