The three English-language countries share a concern to develop a mature training culture. Australia is developing standards so that employers can ensure their training programs meet the legal requirements of recent training legislation. Training companies hire on the basis of earned credentials, specialized knowledge and practical experience. Neither clients nor trainers however appear very concerned about trainees receiving formal qualifications. Clients buy training from commercial suppliers to solve a specific problem or develop a particular strength.
Suppliers can build recognition into most programs, when desired.
France, Germany and Sweden treat training as a fundamental investment in economic and social growth. It is a joint public and individual responsibility. Governments and leading industries in Australia, the U.K. and the U.S. complain that their economies in general treat training as a cost of the employer, and urge the necessity of creating a training culture for their economies to avoid stagnation. In all six countries national, state and local governments have a recognized role in promoting or subsidizing training in some way. They commonly underwrite special programs for women, minority groups, the unemployed and the poor.