Fitness Quote by David Lammy
“The New Labour doctrine that skills training was the responsibility of employers was flawed. The idea that employers should take on a bigger role ignores the reality that employers have no incentive to train staff to leave. We can hardly expect Tesco to train checkout staff to become dental nurses.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: House of Commons debate on Skills Training, UK Parliament, 2015
The belief that employers should bear primary responsibility for workers' skill development is unrealistic because they lack incentives to invest in training that may benefit competitors.
In simple terms: Employers lack incentive to train staff for other jobs.
Key Takeaway
Advocate shared responsibility for training.
Themes
labor policy
skill development
employer incentives
public policy
education
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
policy
analysis
When to use this quote
- government policy design
- corporate training programs
- career planning
- skill shortages
Key Concepts
human capital theory
principal‑agent problem
labor market dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can policy align employer incentives with broader skill needs?
- What alternative models ensure workers receive training?
A Different Perspective
Employers may still train staff if benefits outweigh costs, so blanket statements can be oversimplified.
