Retraining the Workforce (Branches of the Economy and Regions with Particular Structure Problems)

Retrainees as well as a comparison group were interviewed on their occupational situation and further development. Topics: Course of training; participation in further education events after school; reasons for choice of occupation; satisfaction with choice of occupation; work satisfaction and company satisfaction; assessment of the economic situation in the region as well as of the company; assessment of job security and the general problem of unemployment; personal measures to protect against unemployment; conduct at loss of job; job mobility; extent to which informed about the job promotion law; attitude to retraining and expected difficulties; attitude to further education as an adult; assessment of personal abilities to learn a new occupation; expectations of a new occupation; attitude to society and judgement on equal opportunities in the occupation; assessment of equal rights for men and women; disadvantaged or privileged groups in the FRG; judgement on economic development in the next few years and the situation of the worker in society; assessment of the political significance of retraining.

The following additional questions were posed to retrainees: decision and reasons leading to retraining; assessment of the learning situation; achievement supervision and achievement expectations during retraining; experiences with the employment office; financial situation during retraining; perceived occupation prospects after retraining; selection criteria for the new job; attitude to co-determination in training; change of family life from retraining.