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The importance of informal learning at work

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  • Andries de Grip

    (Maastricht University, the Netherlands, and IZA, Germany)

Abstract

Although early human capital theory recognized the relevance of workers’ experience, its focus was on education and formal training. Recent studies find that much of the performance of newly hired workers is driven by learning by doing or learning from peers or supervisors in the workplace. Descriptive data show that workers learn a lot from the various tasks they perform on the job. Informal learning at work seems to be relevant for all age groups, although it drives more of the performance of younger workers. Informal learning is far more important for workers’ human capital development than formal training courses.

Suggested Citation

  • Andries de Grip, 2015. "The importance of informal learning at work," IZA World of Labor, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), pages 162-162, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izawol:journl:y:2015:n:162
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Andries De Grip & Jan Sauermann, 2012. "The Effects of Training on Own and Co‐worker Productivity: Evidence from a Field Experiment," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 122(560), pages 376-399, May.
    2. De Grip, Andries & Sauermann, Jan & Sieben, Inge, 2016. "The role of peers in estimating tenure-performance profiles: Evidence from personnel data," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 126(PA), pages 39-54.
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    4. Sicherman, Nachum & Galor, Oded, 1990. "A Theory of Career Mobility," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 98(1), pages 169-192, February.
      • Galor, Oded & Sicherman, Nachum, 1988. "A Theory of Career Mobility," Working Papers 51, The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, George J. Stigler Center for the Study of the Economy and the State.
    5. Lindbeck, Assar & Snower, Dennis J, 2000. "Multitask Learning and the Reorganization of Work: From Tayloristic to Holistic Organization," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 18(3), pages 353-376, July.
    6. Andries de Grip & Wendy Smits, 2012. "What affects lifelong learning of scientists and engineers?," International Journal of Manpower, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 33(5), pages 583-597, August.
    7. Jim Allen & Andries de Grip, 2012. "Does skill obsolescence increase the risk of employment loss?," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 44(25), pages 3237-3245, September.
    8. Oded Galor & Nachum Sicherman, 1988. "A Theory of Career Mobility," Working Papers 1988-27, Brown University, Department of Economics.
    9. Inge Sieben & Andries De Grip & Jessica Longen & Ole Sørensen, 2009. "Technology, Selection, and Training in Call Centers," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 62(4), pages 553-572, July.
    10. Sherwin Rosen, 1972. "Learning and Experience in the Labor Market," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 7(3), pages 326-342.
    11. Borghans, L. & Fouarge, D. & de Grip, A. & van Thor, J.A.F., 2014. "Werken en leren in Nederland," ROA Report 003, Maastricht University, Research Centre for Education and the Labour Market (ROA).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Olga Kupets, 2018. "Employer‐provided training, innovation and skills in post‐Soviet countries," The Economics of Transition, The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, vol. 26(4), pages 725-768, October.
    2. Zeyer-Gliozzo, Birgit, 2020. "Returns to formal, non-formal and informal training for workers at risk of automation," Ruhr Economic Papers 857, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    3. Bryson, Alex & Buraimo, Babatunde & Farnell, Alex & Simmons, Rob, 2021. "Special Ones? The Effect of Head Coaches on Football Team Performance," IZA Discussion Papers 14104, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    4. de Grip, Andries & Pleijers, Astrid, 2019. "Workshop attendance as a mode of learning: Evidence from the Netherlands," ROA Research Memorandum 007, Maastricht University, Research Centre for Education and the Labour Market (ROA).
    5. Gerards, Ruud & de Grip, Andries & Weustink, A., 2018. "Do new ways of working increase informal learning?," Research Memorandum 010, Maastricht University, Graduate School of Business and Economics (GSBE).
    6. Rosario Aldunate, 2019. "Returns to Work Experience in Chile," Working Papers Central Bank of Chile 855, Central Bank of Chile.
    7. Pierre-Jean Messe & Nathalie Greenan, 2023. "Knowledge transmission in the second part of careers: does formal training matter?," International Journal of Manpower, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 44(7), pages 1415-1436, April.
    8. Naval, Joaquín & Silva, José I. & Vázquez-Grenno, Javier, 2020. "Employment effects of on-the-job human capital acquisition," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    9. Sylwia Wiśniewska & Kamil Wiśniewski & Robert Szydło, 2021. "The Relationship between Organizational Learning at the Individual Level and Perceived Employability: A Model-Based Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-17, July.
    10. Olivier Baguelin & Anne Fretel, 2022. "Learning at Work and the Securing of Professional Mobility," Economie et Statistique / Economics and Statistics, Institut National de la Statistique et des Etudes Economiques (INSEE), issue 532-33, pages 111-133.
    11. de Grip, Andries & Pleijers, Astrid, 2019. "Workshop attendance as a mode of learning:," Research Memorandum 024, Maastricht University, Graduate School of Business and Economics (GSBE).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    informal learning; human capital; learning by doing; knowledge spillovers; high performance workplace;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • M53 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Personnel Economics - - - Training
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply

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