Title
Informal learning of temporary agency workers in low-skill jobs: The role of self-profiling, career control and job challenge
Author
Preenen, P.T.Y.
Verbiest, S.
van Vianen, A.
van Wijk, E.
Publication year
2015
Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of this paper is to develop and investigate the idea that self-profiling and career control by temporary agency workers (TAWs) in low-skill jobs are positively related to informal learning and that this relationship is mediated by job challenge. Design/methodology/approach. An online survey study was conducted among 722 TAWs in low-skill jobs in the Netherlands. Bootstrap mediation analyses were used to test the hypotheses. Findings. Self-profiling and career control are positively related to informal learning of TAWs and these relationships are mediated by job challenge. Research lmitations/implications. This is the first study to develop and empirically test the proposition that self-profiling and career control are important factors for enhancing employees’ learning experiences in low-skill jobs. Practical implications. Hiring companies and temporary work agencies could stimulate and train TAWs’ self-profiling and career control competencies to enhance their job challenge and informal learning. Organizations should consider assigning challenging tasks to TAWs, which may be a good alternative for expensive formal training programs. Social implications.Many TAWs in low-skill jobs do not possess the skills and capacities to obtain a better or more secure job. In general, temporary workers face a higher risk of unemployment and greater income volatility (Segal and Sullivan, 1997). Gaining knowledge about how to develop this group is important for society as a whole. Originality/value. Research on the determinants of informal learning mainly concerned higher-educated employees and managers with long-term contracts (e.g. Dong et al., 2014), whereas very little is known about factors that stimulate informal learning among TAWs in general, and among TAWs in low-skill jobs in particular.
Subject
Life
SP - Sustainable Productivity and Employability
ELSS - Earth, Life and Social Sciences
Work and Employment
Workplace
Healthy Living
Informal learning
Temporary agency workers
Career control
Job challenge
Low-skill jobs
Self-profiling
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:795e8761-994c-4082-baee-1483f4bf3774
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1108/cdi-12-2013-0158
TNO identifier
527204
Source
Career Development International, 20 (4), 339-362
Document type
article