Job Insecurity and Informal Learning Across Different Employment Contract Models
Keywords:
job insecurity, informal learning, workplace learning strategies, employment contract, professional developmentAbstract
This study investigated the relationship between job insecurity (JI) and informal learning behaviors (ILBs), considering different employment arrangements. Four hypotheses were formulated: (H1) cognitive JI is negatively related to ILBs; (H2) affective JI is negatively related to ILBs; (H3) employees under CLT and self-employed workers show higher levels of JI compared to public servants; and (H4) there are no significant differences in the use of ILBs across contract types. The quantitative, correlational, and comparative study involved 304 Brazilian workers. Validated scales were used to measure JI (cognitive and affective) and ILBs, and analyses included Spearman correlations, multiple regressions, and Kruskal–Wallis tests with Dwass–Steel–Critchlow–Fligner post hoc comparisons. Results indicated a negative association between cognitive JI and most ILBs, while affective JI showed no significant relationship except with the repetition strategy. CLT employees reported higher affective JI and greater help-seeking in written materials. The findings suggest that cognitive JI may inhibit informal learning behaviors and highlight the importance of organizational policies that foster psychological safety.
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