Human capital investment by private employers in Blair County, Pennsylvania, as measured by training practices

This research project was designed to identify the extent of corporate investment in human capital as measured by training practices. It focused on the largest private employers in Blair County, Pennsylvania. The study was modeled on a nationwide assessment completed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) entitled “Survey of Employer-Provided Training” (1996) as modified by Gilpin (1999).; This study examined the extent to which Blair County employers provided or financed formal training. The type, amount, expenditures, employer characteristics, and practices related to training provided to the largest private employers were identified. The research project described here went beyond the previously mentioned studies to examine other training practices utilized by the target population, and to anticipate future training needs.; Fifty of the largest private employers in Blair County, Pennsylvania, were invited to participate in this study. Specific organizations were identified by data obtained from the Pennsylvania Bureau of Research and Statistics. Forty-two employers from eight different industry sectors provided data. Manufacturing (N = 23) and Service (N = 11) organizations represented the bulk of the research participants. Additionally, organizations with 101–200 and 251–400 employees were represented most often in the population.; A two-phase data collection process was utilized. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with the individual in each organization who was most familiar with its education and training practices. In the second phase of data collection, a survey instrument was provided to each contact person at the end of the interview. Participants were asked to return the survey within a specified period of time. This research approach was utilized to facilitate the collection of data and to enhance the return rate.; Investing in human capital through the delivery of training activities is covered broadly in the literature. Several major training resources, Training Magazine, and the American Society of Training and Development each provide annual reports on national training trends. Little coverage on the education and training needs of local geographic regions is offered in the literature.; Data collected indicate that technical, management/supervision, safety, and orientation programs were the predominant formal trainings currently offered. These topics were also heavily represented in terms of number of employees participating in training and hours of training received. Dollars spent on training went mainly to external vendors and the annual budgets for training varied greatly. In a number of instances, correlated relationships were established based on industry type and/or size of organization.; Participants in this research project anticipate increasing the amount of training offered over the next several years. Hourly employees will receive an increased amount of training, while it is anticipated that the amount of computer-based training will grow. Leadership/management/supervision, computer training, and technical training in the production area were the most anticipated future training needs.; A variety of informal training practices were utilized by the organizations surveyed in this project. On-the-job training, near-the-job training, one-on-one training, and other methods of informal development practices were widely used by Blair County research participants.