MFA-ZFA Kompass - Skills monitoring on training and career satisfaction and retention in Bavaria

Project background

The MFA ZFA- Kompass research project helps to understand the background to the shortage of skilled workers from the perspective of those affected. Based on previous research, it is assumed that skilled workers do not only decide to drop out of training or leave the profession due to temporary professional dissatisfaction. Rather, negative experiences and evaluations in relation to the profession add up. To this end, the individual perceptions and considerations behind staying in the profession, leaving the profession and dropping out of training are studied.

Project objective

Based on the study of career adherence, career exit and training dropout, occupation-specific recommendations for action will be developed to support the development of framework conditions to reduce the shortage of skilled workers.

Project procedure

Based on a review of the current state of research on the topics of dropping out of training, leaving the profession and remaining in the profession (WP1), a quantitative survey and qualitative case studies will be designed, conducted and evaluated. The qualitative investigation of staying in the profession (WP2) is followed by the study of leaving the profession (WP3) and then the investigation of dropping out of training (WP4). Parallel to the qualitative part, the research work is carried out by means of the quantitative survey on career adherence (WP5). After a cross-thematic consolidation of the findings (WP6), occupation-specific recommendations for action will be developed (WP7).

Innovation

For the first time, occupational adherence is being investigated as a key factor in the shortage of skilled workers. The MFA ZFA-Kompass project adopts a perspective that is new to the relevant research by conceptualizing staying in the profession, leaving the profession and dropping out of training as employment strategies as the results of individual negotiation processes that are reconstructed and compared in the course of the research.