Changes and Challenges of Vocational Skill Development System for Vulnerable Populations
Young-hoon Oh
The objective of this study is to identify future policy priorities for the vocational training of vulnerable populations through analysis of the changes in the vocational skill development system for such populations. To this end, the relationship between vocational training and social welfare was ascertained, and an analysis of the range of vulnerable groups, changes in vocational training systems, vocational training policies, and operations for vulnerable populations was carried out.
The vocational training system in Korea is closely connected with the process of going from welfare to work. A strong emphasis is placed on the responsibility and obligation of vulnerable populations such as the recipients of unemployment benefits and households in absolute poverty to participate in vocational training. Moreover, self-support vocational training and employment package support projects are said to be one of the welfare-to-work programs that emphasize the responsibilities of beneficiaries.
Vocational training policy in Korea is being promoted in a manner that focuses on continuing the professional development of workers, and has moved towards emphasis on the right of workers to receive vocational training without discrimination. In the meantime, not only traditionally disadvantaged groups such as past welfare recipients and teens not attending school but also marriage immigrants and excluded groups within the labor market, such as non-regular workers, are currently being included as vocational training targets, a denouement which highlights the urgent need for a timely and effective response to vocational training for vulnerable populations.
However, there has been an overall reduction in the number of participants in vocational training courses for vulnerable populations, a denouement which has been caused by factors such as illiteracy, the burden of household duties, and the loss of income during the training period. This absolute shortage of training subjects makes the organization of training classes and the implementation of vocational training for vulnerable populations by training institutions impossible, which in turn contributes to the abolition of the applicable vocational training courses.
While the employment rate of disadvantaged groups was found to be much lower than the average employment rate of the overall jobless population taking vocational training courses, the
occupational category and period of training were revealed to have a major effect on employment.
In addition, disadvantaged trainees preference for short-term training was identified as a main cause of the inefficiency of training finances. This is because stable employment for the disadvantaged cannot be guaranteed. Moreover, the welfare benefits system in Korea was found to be one of the factors which reduced the possibility of welfare recipients' employment. In this regard, 75% of recipients were revealed to try and remain entitled to welfare so that they could preserve their pension benefits.
The following policy-level suggestions are introduced with regards to vocational training for vulnerable populations:
First, vocational training for vulnerable populations should be focused on the enhancement of professional competitiveness in the labor market. In this regard, it is necessary to establish institutional systems that can help induce participation in long-term vocational training and to develop vocational training models to improve the potential for employment.
Second, a foundation should be established to encourage vulnerable populations to participate in vocational training. Improvement of training effectiveness is to be brought about through the provision of minimum cost of living expenses during the training period and welfare services that reflect their particular situations. In addition, access to the latest labor market and training information should be enhanced so as to strengthen training counselling.
Third, the reorganization of the welfare benefit systems is required. It is necessary to respond to the needs of the working poor through the individualization of payroll systems.
Fourth, the substantiality of vocational training for vulnerable populations should be insured through the reorganization of training cost payment standards. There is a need to review the introduction of methods of increasing the self-paid burden while gradually raising training costs to the level where they reflect actual expenses.
Fifth, a cooperation system and linkages between the human and material resources of local communities and government departments should be constructed as a means to bring about the reorganization of training delivery systems.
Lastly, it is necessary to review the introduction of apprenticeships. Such a system could not only help workers to more highly value the benefits of education, but also help employers to enhance their business competitiveness.
