How a One-Time Incentive Can Induce Long-Term Commitment to Training

This paper asks whether a one-time incentive can induce workers to commit to short- and long-term training to remain competitively employable. The incentive was a one-time offer of $60, given to workers who finished two courses within 4 months. It had a remarkable, positive effect on training participation during this period, and a sustained effect beyond it, but only in the condition where two psychological techniques were used to increase commitment to training and to shape perceptions of the incentive. These results have practical implications for companies and governmental organizations wanting well-trained workforces to sustain growth in competitive environments.