Exploring the impact of training, job tenure, and education-job and skills-job matches on employee turnover intention

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore how training, job tenure and education-job and skills-job matches impact employees’ turnover intention by using a representative national sample from the Korean Labor and Income Panel Study in which 1,531 individuals were followed from 2003 to 2014. Design/methodology/approach: A hierarchical-regression analysis was conducted to examine the relationships among training, job tenure, education-job match, skills-job match and turnover intention. This analysis focused on 12 year-to-year time points from 2003 to 2014 (one for each year), and the data were measured for each individual. Findings: The results from the hierarchical-regression analysis supported the hypotheses that on-the-job training, off-the-job training, distance training, job tenure and education-job and skills-job matches are significantly associated with turnover intention. Originality/value: The findings of this study, based on human capital theory and firm-specific human capital theory, contribute to an understanding of how training and the education-job and skills-job matches may impact turnover intention in a non-Western context. It also provides a longitudinal perspective of the impact of training on employee turnover intention to inform human resource development professionals when planning employee training.