Economische kwalificatieveroudering en ontwikkelmogelijkheden in het werk: De rol van psychologische hulpbronnen en leeftijd

This study examines how economic skills obsolescence (ESO) relates to employees' perceptions of development opportunities at work and to what extent this relationship is explained by three psychological resources: learning attitude, learning self-efficacy, and mastery. In addition, the moderating role of age in these relationships is examined. The theoretical framework integrates insights from COR theory (Hobfoll,1989), social learning theory (Bandura,1986), and SOC theory (Baltes & Baltes, 1990). ESO is conceptualized as an experienced obsolescence of knowledge and skills, which, in line with COR theory, is interpreted as a form of resource loss. Using longitudinal survey data from 490 telecommunication employees aged 19 to 66 years, we tested a parallel mediation model and a moderated mediation model. The results show that ESO is negatively related to perceived development opportunities at work. We also found indirect associations between ESO and perceived development opportunities: negatively through learning attitude and mastery, and positively through learning self-efficacy. Furthermore, age strengthens the negative relationships between ESO and both learning attitude and learning self-efficacy, whereas the relationship with mastery does not differ by age. These findings highlight the importance of timely identification of ESO and of strengthening learning attitude and mastery within HRD policies.