This study examines, both theoretically and empirically, the issue of occupational training in Taiwan. On the theoretical side, several basic concepts are reviewed, and a method for distributing the burden of training costs among trainees, employers, and the government based on “human capital theory” is derived. On the empirical side, close attention is paid to the history of occupational training in Taiwan and relevant data is analyzed, so that developments in this important area may be forecast.
As compared with formal training, occupational training is usually undertaken in the short term and is designed for immediate use in the workplace. Occupational training should also be able to respond quickly to changing conditions in the labor market. To realize this aim, comprehensive and efficient information channels are extremely important. Also necessary is an external system evaluating the overall training performance, since occupational training is not a market mechanism. This paper, accordingly, investigates the various types of information channels and evaluation methods found currently in Taiwan.
