The Effect of Career Development Programmes on Employees’ Productivity in Medium-Scale Enterprises in Nigeria

Abstract

In contemporary organisational practice, sustained performance is largely driven by how effectively enterprises prioritise career development opportunities that enhance employee capability, commitment, and long-term productivity. Thus, this study investigates the effect of career development programmes on the productivity of employees in Nigerian medium-scale enterprises. The study population comprised 398 employees of three selected medium-scale enterprises for this study, comprising JUHEL Nigeria Limited, Awka; DELOG Nigeria Limited, Lagos; and SCL Future Food Systems, Abuja. Using a census sampling technique, the study population of 398 was retained as the sample size of the study since its manageable. Data were gathered through a structured questionnaire and an in-depth interview guide. Analysis of the quantitative data was conducted using descriptive statistics, including mean and standard deviation, alongside SPSS version 23, while regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses at a 0.05 level of significance, complemented by thematic analysis of qualitative interview responses. The study found that career development initiatives, such as induction, in-house training, and professional development programmes, helped improve employees' skills and job performance, although opportunities for paid study leave were limited. Despite these benefits, the study showed that career development schemes did not have a significant influence on employee motivation for productivity. It was recommended that medium-scale enterprises strengthen employee development by implementing structured training programmes, identifying staff learning needs, collaborating with professional training providers, and improving study leave policies to support career advancement while maintaining organisational efficiency.