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Recent Trends in Engineering and Construction Skill Formation - UK and Germany Compared

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  • Hilary Steedman

Abstract

Accurate accounting for annual flows of vocational qualifications by sector of economic activity has been greatly impeded by the data collection methods put in place since the setting up of the National Council for Vocational Qualifications (NCVQ) in 1986. Using unpublished data from a variety of sources, the paper concludes that, allowing for differences in the size engineering and construction sectors in the two countries, Britain continues to lag well behind Germany in the production of intermediate level engineering skills and in craft qualifications in the building trades. Assessments of the relative quality of the NVQ Level 2 in Construction and the German construction apprenticeship show the standard of practical competence acquired to be similar in both countries. The standard of the German tests of technical knowledge and of mathematics was judged to be well above the building trade craft level in Britain. Unlike their German counterparts, British construction and engineering trainees awarded NVQ 2 and NVQ 3 qualifications are no longer obliged to pass externally set and marked tests in occupationally-related technical skill and knowledge mathematics. It appears that Britain is still some way from closing the skills gap with Germany in engineering and in the building trades despite sacrificing rigour in assessment and the breadth and technical knowledge base of traditional skills training programmes and concentrating instead on work-related practical competences.

Suggested Citation

  • Hilary Steedman, 1997. "Recent Trends in Engineering and Construction Skill Formation - UK and Germany Compared," CEP Discussion Papers dp0353, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    • Handle: RePEc:cep:cepdps:dp0353
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Geoff Mason & Bart van Ark & Karin Wagner, 1993. "Productivity, product quality and workforce skills: food processing in four European countries," National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) Discussion Papers 34, National Institute of Economic and Social Research.
    2. Geoff Mason & Bart van Ark & Karin Wagner, 1994. "Productivity, Product Quality and Workforce Skills: Food Processing in Four European Countries," National Institute Economic Review, National Institute of Economic and Social Research, vol. 147(1), pages 62-83, February.
    3. Steedman, Hilary, 1992. "Mathematics in vocational youth training for the building trades in Britain, France and Germany," National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) Discussion Papers 9, National Institute of Economic and Social Research.
    4. Prais,S. J., 1995. "Productivity, Education and Training," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521556675.
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    Cited by:

    1. Pull, Kerstin & Schneider, Martin, 1998. "Beschäftigungs- und Lohndynamik in hochqualifizierten Unternehmen," Quint-Essenzen 54, University of Trier, Institute for Labour Law and Industrial Relations in the European Community (IAAEG).
    2. Linda Clarke & Christine Wall, 1998. "UK construction skills in the context of European developments," Construction Management and Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(5), pages 553-567.

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