European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training

Wilfried Kruse

Training in the retail sector throughout the 12 European Community (EC) member countries was examined through in-depth case studies of 55 retail firms that were selected as representing a wide range of firm types (19 multinational, 36 national, 4 cooperative, 7 family-owned firms), forms of retailing (department stores, supermarkets, and chain and independent specialized stores), firm sizes (ranging from firms employing fewer than 100 to more than 10,000 people), and subsectors (food, nonfood, both). It was discovered that priority is still being given to training newly recruited employees, especially potential managers. A new emphasis on training as part of a global commercial strategy and concomitant new emphasis on training the whole staff were evident. Most curricula were found to be based on a modular principle. An increase in the number of training activities in retail firms and a shift toward more strategic use of training as part of firms' human resource policies were discovered. Few data on training costs and efficiency were available, and the need for more systematic collection of factual data on training in the retail sector was evident. (Appended are seven tables of statistical data and the names/addresses of the study advisory committee members.) (MN)

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