Inclusive Training Systems and Firm Performance: Evidence from Italian Workplace Learning

This study examines the relationship between inclusive workplace training systems and firm performance, extending Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM) research beyond aggregate measures of training investment. Drawing on SHRM, diversity and inclusion, and adult learning literature, we conceptualize inclusive training as a multidimensional system encompassing training intensity and coverage, quality and evaluation practices, delivery modes and content, and the distribution of learning opportunities across demographic groups, particularly women and workers aged 50 and over. The empirical analysis combines data from the INAPP INDACO Firms Survey with AIDA balance-sheet information to investigate associations between training practices and HR, operational, and financial outcomes across Italian firms. Particular attention is devoted to whether more inclusive training participation is associated with organisational performance beyond overall training intensity, and how these relationships vary according to training design, organisational characteristics, and institutional arrangements. By integrating the distributional and organisational dimensions of workplace learning, the study contributes to a more systemic understanding of the training–performance relationship. It also seeks to inform the design of training policies that promote equitable access to skill development while supporting organisational effectiveness and sustainable firm performance.