PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE AS A CRUCIAL CONDITION FOR THE SUCCESSFUL ACTIVITY OF QUALIFIED WORKERS IN THE SERVICE SECTOR

The relevance of this article is determined by the need to elucidate the main approaches to interpreting the essence and structure of the concept "professional competence" and to justify its importance as a crucial condition for the successful activity of skilled workers in the service sector according to current labor market demands. The purpose of the article is to illuminate the main approaches to interpreting the essence and structure of the concept "professional competence," and to characterize it as an important condition for the successful activity of skilled workers in the service sector. Methods: the study of scientific sources on the interpretation of the essence of the concept "professional competence" and its structural components, summarization and systematization - for formulating conclusions and perspectives for further research. Results: the results of the analysis of the definition "professional competence" of skilled workers in the service sector are presented, the main approaches in scientific sources to the interpretation of this concept are determined; the main components of professional competence of skilled workers in the service sector are characterized; it is substantiated that the professional competence of a skilled worker in the service sector is a complex formation that integrates knowledge, skills, experience, personal values, orientations, and needs, and ensures productive and successful professional activity and professional development of the personality of a skilled worker, taking into account the needs of the labor market; the following components are singled out: value-motivational, gnoseological-cognitive, innovative-technological, interpersonal-communicative, reflexive-evaluative. Conclusions: the main aspects of the essence and structure of professional competence of skilled workers in the service sector are characterized, the importance of professional competence for successful professional activity is substantiated, taking into account the peculiarities of the profession and labor market demands.