Continuing professional development experiences of technical and vocational workers: an exploration from Ghana

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to explore the continuing professional development (CPD) experiences of technical and vocational workers in the informal sector of Ghana. Design/methodology/approach – A phenomenological research design was adopted. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 technical and vocational workers who were conveniently and purposively recruited from the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings – Motivations, barriers and pathways explained the CPD experiences of technical and vocational workers. Technical and vocational workers in Ghana were found to engage in four categories of CPD pathways, which were largely formal and informal. Three distinct categories of motivations were identified, which related to self-determination and personal drive, skill acquisition and continuous learning and economic survival and business sustainability. Further analysis revealed five barriers, which were largely institutional and situational. Research limitations/implications – Research limitations include potential biases resulting from self-reported responses. Practical implications – Continuous learning for technical and vocational workers must be highly considered as a national priority. Professional associations should continue to mobilize and enhance the professional competence and practices of technical and vocational workers. Originality/value – To the best of the authors’ knowledge, almost no study has investigated the CPD experiences of technical and vocational workers from adult learning and self-determination perspectives. This study, therefore, contributes to the occupational competence and professional development literature in a developing country context.