National competency observation(2011)
Sung Lee, Sang Don Lee, Young Saing Kim, Ji Young Ryu, Soo Young Lee
The purpose of this study was to observe the competencies of the labor force nationwide in Korea. The research approach, contents, and range of the national competencies observed may based on their interests and majors, differ from researcher to researcher.
This research entitled, "national competency observation," is slated to begin in 2010 and continue for 10 years. The range of the competencies researched this year encompasses not only core (basic, generic) competencies, but also job specific ones.
The following competency related problems were analyzed:
- ratio of majors by education level
- level of competency acquisition through formal education program
- certificate of qualifications for job performance requirements and status of the acquisition of certificate of qualifications.
- determinants of newly hired workforce's competencies such as diplomas, public qualifications certificates, and private qualification certificates
- level of quantitative and qualitative difficulties in hiring new and skilled workforce - settlement level of skill shortage problem and cause of non-settlement
- utilized methods and effective means of resolving the competency problems.
As job specific competencies vary across fields, the identification of specific job related competencies is required to observe job specific competencies. Without a clear description of specific competencies, we cannot identify the competencies needed in each field.
To this end, we used the NCS (National Competency Standards) developed by KRIVET (Korea Research Institute for Vocational Technical Education) and HRDSK (Human Resources Development Service of Korea). Since we used the NCS to define specific job competencies, the outputs of this
study can be regarded as important data for the development of job related education programs, policy making, diplomas, and qualifications.
The manufacturing and construction industries, as classified by the KSCO (Korean Standard Classification of Occupation), were selected as the targets of this study. Level 2 and level 3 on KSCO were listed and matched to jobs on the NCS.
The research items include 11 units and 30 subunits of generic competencies and 254 competency domains and 1,600 competency units pertaining to job specific competencies in the manufacturing and construction industry. 886 business units in the manufacturing industry and 347 business units in the construction industry were surveyed as part of this study.
Among generic competencies, the ability to apply technology was identified as the most needed competency in 7 of the 17 industry types found in the manufacturing and construction industries.
Problem solving skills were the most important in 5 industry types and resources management competency in 2 industry types. While the mathematical competency was identified as the least important one in 7 industry types and cultural understanding in 5, communication skills was listed in 2.
For the unskilled newly hired workforce, the ability to utilize technology, problem solving competency, resources management skills, change management ability, and interpersonal skills were identified as the most needed competencies.
On the other hand, information utilization skills were the least important competency. This was followed by the competencies of cultural understanding, mathematical ability, and organizational understanding.
