Every outfit I've worked for for the past several years has been woefully deficient in maintaining the tech skills of their staff. And why not? With the paper mills churning out "diplomas" and "schools" churning out "MCSE's" they can replace their entire staff everytime they change operating systems for the cost of continual training. They save on promotions and pay raises too because they hire the new staff at a lower wage than the old staff. If the job is miserable enough good techs won't stay. That's ok because there are 10 (or more) people in line for the job with more current skills. All you lose is a little corporate knowledge and who cares about that?

On the other hand, if you are serious about trying to make a living and get ahead, you can read a book (you pay for) or read a "training package" on a CD (the company graciously provides)and hope you absorb enough to fake your way through it.

Everytime the corporations try to save a penny or two, to raise that bottom line, training takes the hit. People are your largest expense when you do business. If you want the best, and you want them to stay the best, you had best allocate the proper funding to maintain, and increase those skills. (All skills, not just tech skills)

The question is, where do you want to be in 10, 20 or 30 years? Your people get you there.