Retraining and Tradition

First published in 1975, Retraining and Tradition reflects the challenges and dynamics of its era, a time when rapid technological advancements were beginning to reshape traditional approaches to skills acquisition and employment. As industries evolved, the long-standing model of apprenticeships-once a cornerstone of secure, lifelong careers-was increasingly disrupted, with workers often required to change jobs and acquire new skills multiple times throughout their careers. This book examines the post-training experiences of adult trainees who were trained by the Government in trades traditionally requiring youth apprenticeships. It also explores the broader implications for skilled workers and their trade unions as they grappled with the retraining dilemma. By tracing the historical trajectory of skilled manual labour and questioning conventional classifications of industrial workers, the book seeks to bridge the gap between personnel management and industrial sociology, offering a grounded perspective on the real-world challenges of adapting to a fast-changing industrial world.

Foreword Preface Part 1: The Skilled Worker and his Training 1. Industrial Change and Industrial Training 2. Apprenticeship History 3. Background to Adult Training 4. Investment in Human Capital: The Meaning of Skill Part 2: The Data from the Longitudinal Study 5. The Longitudinal Research Project and its Methodology 6. The Pre-training Situation of the Longitudinal Sample of Trainees 7. The Training of a Group of Government Training Centre Trainees - Their Views on the Training, and Their Post-training Labour Market Experience 8. The First Eighteen Months after Training 9. Industrial Relations Aspects of Skills Dilution 10. The Social Mobility of a Group of Trainees Part 3: The Long-term Perspective of Training the Mature Worker 11. The Second Survey: The Trainees' Situation in the Labour Market Half a Decade or More after Entry 12. Review and Conclusion