A quarter of employees in critical sectors are officially authorised yet lack real proficiency
A quarter of employees in critical sectors are authorised on paper but prove unqualified in practice
At nearly three quarters (73%) of Dutch organisations operating in critical sectors, insufficient knowledge among employees leads to mistakes on the job. More than one in five (21%) say this regularly causes physical incidents. These are key findings from research by Drillster (opens in new tab), the adaptive learning specialist, among more than 1,000 people working in essential roles across sectors such as healthcare, education, and public transport.
A diploma is no guarantee of competence
Almost a quarter of respondents (23%) report that many colleagues are formally authorised, yet lack real proficiency. In other words, they hold the diplomas or certificates required to perform specific tasks, but in practice do not possess the right knowledge or skills. At three out of ten organisations (30%), employees even carry out tasks without any of the necessary certifications. That puts the safety of staff and the public at risk.
Marco van Sterkenburg, CEO at Drillster, explains: “In critical professions it is vital that people always have the right knowledge at their fingertips. This research confirms what we see in practice: employees in these sectors do not always have the right diplomas or certificates. On top of that, those who are authorised on paper are not necessarily competent in real life. The issue is not just earning the credentials, but continually maintaining the knowledge needed to act effectively. Too often, companies and employees approach certifications and courses as box-ticking exercises. Knowledge fades quickly, and procedures or regulations can change along the way. Employers must therefore invest in continuously updating and evidencing employee knowledge. That is far more valuable than relying on sporadic refresher courses or (re)certification programmes. Those might lead to a temporary peak in knowledge or authorisation, but they do not guarantee competence when it truly matters.”
You can download the research report here.
https://drillster.com/nl/download-onderzoek-parate-kennis-in-cruciale-sectoren/
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