Skill formation under pressure : how the collective governance of vocational training adapts to rising skill demands

Why do economic and political institutions differ across countries and how do they change over time? I investigate this puzzle by studying collective skill formation in Switzerland. I investigate two fields in vocational training which both face the challenge to adapt to rising skill demands in particular. Firstly, I zoom in on inclusiveness-enhancing training that targets disadvantaged candidates. In times of rising skill demands, dis-advantaged candidates find it increasingly difficult to land an apprenticeship position. In my dissertation, I compare how Denmark, Germany and Switzerland balance social and economic goals in the institutionalization of inclusiveness-enhancing training. Furthermore, I trace the policy process that led to the introduction of inclusiveness-enhancing training in Switzerland in 2002. Secondly, I analyse further vocational training which plays an important role for up-dating employees’ skills. Further vocational training equips learners with advanced occupational skills and prepares them for leadership positions. My dissertation investigates factors that help to explain differences in the level of collective action in the provision and financing of further vocational training across different sectors in Switzerland. Moreover, I analyse processes of change in the provision of advanced professional skills in the Swiss banking sector to better understand different trajectories of liberalization.