Gender selection mechanisms in non-formal continuing vocational training

Current labour market challenges, such as digitalisation, socio-ecological transformations, and demographic change, are increasingly leading to skill obsolescence and a growing mismatch between labour demand and available qualifications. In this context, non-formal continuing vocational training (CVT) serves as a crucial adaptation strategy, raising important questions about equal access to CVT opportunities. The dissertation examines gender disparities in CVT participation in Germany and the underlying selection mechanisms. While existing research provides mixed evidence on gender differences in CVT participation, it consistently highlights a motherhood penalty. However, little is known about the mechanisms driving this disparity. Using data from the German National Educational Panel Study (NEPS), the dissertation provides descriptive evidence that men tend to participate in CVT for longer durations, whereas women engage more frequently in shorter training programmes. Employing serial mediation analyses and zero-inflated negative binomial regression models, the findings indicate that women's CVT participation decreases both in frequency and intensity as their childcare responsibilities increase – an effect not observed among men. Moreover, the results show that this motherhood penalty is primarily mediated by selective access to the labour market and a lower position within the firm's wage structure.