Alternatives for the training of skilled industrial labor in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Large numbers of skilled industrial workers recently have been developed rapidly in this area, and three broad questions concerning their origin, development and present situation are examined. First, what was the origin of the present skilled industrial laborers? The study attempts to determine if they were in fact drawn randomly from the total Brazilian population or if their geographic, socioeconomic, and other characteristics of origin make them significantly different from the remainder of the population. Second, how did these individuals learn and develop their mental and manual skills? An examination is made of the institutional arrangements, content, duration, and sequence of their learning experiences. Third, and perhaps most important, do variations in the origins of individuals and in the types of learning experiences to which they were exposed influence the nature, quality, and market valuation of the work they perform on the job? A general model relating factors important in the development of skilled industrial workers is elaborated. This model serves as a basis for the development of several linear regression models which are used to "explain" variation in what is done on the job, wage rates, and the time taken to reach the skilled occupational level.