Disability, Training and Job Satisfaction

This study analyses the effects of participating in further training on the levels of job satisfaction reported by workers without and with disabilities in Germany. Using longitudinal data from the German Socio-Economic Panel which covers the period 1989–2008, we estimate a “Probit Adapted OLS (POLS)” model which allows us to identify the determinants of job satisfaction for people without and with disabilities. The results show that the participation in further training increases the levels of job satisfaction reported by all workers, although this increase is significantly lower among workers with disabilities. In addition, no significant differences in terms of job satisfaction were found according to the number of courses attended by disability status. However, significant differences were found between participants without and with disabilities if the duration of training was more than 1 month. From a public policy perspective, these findings show the need to redesign and implement innovative training programs for people with disabilities which contribute to increasing their levels of job satisfaction within the German labour market.