| This study focused on formal training in small manufacturing businesses. Past research has indicated that the smaller the business the less likely the business would be to engage in formal training for employees. However, much of the past data overlooked formal training in the smallest of small businesses, those with less than 50 employees. This study investigated, within the manufacturing industry, the following claims: (a) small manufacturing businesses provide less training than the average small business, (b) the smaller the business the less likely formal training is to occur, (c) regardless of the business size the importance of formal training remains the same, and (d) small businesses that value formal training will budget for that formal training. Recently, legislative initiatives have been introduced that would provide financial incentives to small businesses to train employees in highly skilled occupations. These legislative initiatives are based on the theory that human capital investment is vital to business. This study was conducted, in part, to evaluate and contribute to the debate around these initiatives. The data was collected using a web-based survey, whereby small manufacturing businesses provided answers to a questionnaire pertaining to formal training. Questionnaires were gathered from 118 small manufacturing businesses. Three of the four hypotheses were supported with the remaining hypothesis being partially supported (p < .10). More specifically, small manufacturing businesses have less formal training was partially supported, the smaller the business the less formal training was supported, based on size there is no difference in training perception, and businesses that place higher value on training budget for training were supported. |
