A LATENT PROFILE ANALYSIS OF COMPETENCE DEMANDS IN WORKPLACES AND SUPPLY IN HIGHER EDUCATION USING THE KOREAN YOUTH PANEL

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to investigate office workers' competencies that employees perceived to be important in their workplaces and the degree of helpfulness of universities as well as to scrutinize the gap between competence demand in the workplace and provision in higher education. Using the responses of bachelor's-degree holders working as office workers from the Korean Youth Panel data, a latent profile analysis was conducted with five competence categories each for their importance and university helpfulness. The analysis revealed four latent profiles. Further, paired t-tests were also conducted to examine the gap between competence importance and university helpfulness. Gaps were confirmed and partially confirmed in two profiles each. The results imply that it is necessary to consider the actual demands in the workplace when designing and planning competence or job programs in universities.