The objective of this study is to seek future policy priorities for vocational training of the vulnerable populations through analysis on the changes in vocational skill development system for the vulnerable populations. Toward this end, the relationship between vocational training and social welfare was figure out, and analysis on the range of vulnerable groups, progress of changes in vocational training systems, vocational training policies and operations for the vulnerable populations was carried out.
Vocational training system in Korea is closely connected with welfare to work. That is, emphasis on the responsibilities and obligations for vulnerable populations such as recipients of unemployment benefits and households in absolute poverty to participate in vocational training is highlighted, and in connection with this, self-support vocational training and employment package support project is said to be one of the welfare-to-work programs that emphasizes the responsibilities of beneficiaries.
Vocational training policy in Korea is being promoted in terms of continuing professional development of workers, and reorganized into the right of workers to receive vocational training without discrimination. In the mean time, not only traditionally disadvantaged groups of vocational training such as past welfare recipients and the teens not attending school but also marriage immigrants and excluded groups in the labor market like non-regular workers are currently being included in the vocational training subjects, which indicates the fact that timely and effective response to vocational training for the vulnerable populations is urgently required.
However, there is an overall reduction in the number of participants in vocational training courses for the vulnerable populations, which is caused by illiteracy, burden of household duties and loss of income during training period. An absolute shortage of training subjects in turn leads to impossibility of organization of training classes and implementation of vocational training for vulnerable populations by training institutions, thereby contributing to abolition of the applicable vocational training courses.
Employment rate of disadvantaged groups is much lower, compared with average employment rae of total jobless populations taking vocational training courses, and an occupational category and period of training have a major effect on their employment. In addition, short-term training preferred by disadvantaged trainees is main cause of inefficiency of training finance since it cannot guarantee stable employment for the disadvantaged, and welfare benefits system in Korea is considered as one of the reasons to reduce the possibility of welfare recipients’ employment, and the reality is that 75% of recipients try to maintain entitlement to welfare for preservation of pension benefits.
Political issues of vocational training for the vulnerable populations are suggested as follows:
First, vocational training for the vulnerable populations is to be focused on enhancement of professional competitiveness in the labor market. For this, it is necessary to establish institutional systems to induce participation of long-term vocational training and develop vocational training models to improve employment possibilities
Second, a foundation to encourage vulnerable populations to participate in vocational training is to be established. Improvement of training effectiveness is to be made by providing them with the minimum cost of living during training period and welfare services suitable for situations. In addition, information accessibility to produce and search the latest labor market and training information is to be enhanced to make training counselling substantial.
Third, reorganization of welfare benefit systems is required. It is necessary to respond to the needs of working poor through individualization of payroll systems.
Fourth, substantiality of vocational training for the vulnerable populations is to be insured through reorganization of training cost payment standards. It is necessary to review a method of increasing self-paid burden while raising the training costs into the level of actual expenses gradually.
Fifth, cooperation system and linkage between human and material resources of local communities and government departments is to be constructed as a method for reorganization of the training delivery systems.
Lastly, it is necessary to review introduction of apprenticeship to help workers to have significant value of educational benefits and employers to enhance business competitiveness.