Examining the Interplay between On-the-Job and Off-the-Job Training and Employee Productivity in Private Transportation Service Firms in Edo State, Nigeria

This study examined the interplay between on-the-job and off-the-job training and employee productivity within private sector transportation services in Edo State. The study was motivated by the persistent operational inefficiencies, poor service delivery, safety-related challenges, and inconsistent employee performance evident within the private transportation sector despite increasing organizational investment in employee development initiatives. Specifically, the study investigated the effects of on-the-job and off-the-job training on employee productivity. The study was anchored on the Human Capital Theory. A descriptive survey research design was adopted, while primary data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to employees of selected private transportation firms in Edo State. A sample size of 150 respondents was utilized for the study. Data obtained from the field survey were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis. The findings revealed that on-the-job training exerted a significant positive effect on employee productivity (β = 0.3973; t = 3.69; p < 0.05). Similarly, off-the-job training was found to have a significant positive effect on employee productivity (β = 0.3973; t = 3.99; p < 0.05). The results further demonstrated that both dimensions of training significantly improved employees’ competence, operational efficiency, and service delivery effectiveness within the private transportation sector. The study concluded that employee training constitutes a critical determinant of employee productivity within private transportation services in Edo State. Consequently, the study recommended that management of private transportation firms should prioritize continuous workplace-based learning, practical skill acquisition, and formal professional development programmes in order to enhance employee competence, improve operational effectiveness, strengthen customer satisfaction, and promote sustainable organizational productivity.