What drives the intentions of crafts apprentices to change their employer or occupation? An empirical study in the crafts sector

This paper combines for the first time several job satisfaction dimensions such as occupational enjoyment, job security, financial attractiveness, working conditions, and social relations and estimates their impact on the intention of crafts apprentices to leave their training firm or occupation. Different from previous analyses, we do not just estimate the intention for job mobility. We also consider the dimension of the intended change by taking into account whether crafts apprentices intend to change firm or also occupation. We find that occupational enjoyment and job security are the most important drivers for the intention to stay with the training firm. In contrast to other studies, monetary incentives do not drive the intention to leave the training firm or occupation. Our results have far reaching implications for the training firms and institutions in the craft sector concerning incentive systems, initial screening of apprentices, training of supervisors, further training as well as the improvement of the image of the industry in public through craft chambers.Length: 21 pages