Abstract
Although women's economic participation has been increasing in Korea, the utilization of educated women's labor is still low. Therefore, vocational training programs for women are both important and necessary. This study examines the vocational training programs for women offered by the three largest vocational training centers in Jeju: the Woman Resources Development Center, the Jeju Women's Development Center, and the Seogwipo City Women's Cultural Center. This study also analyzes the students' satisfaction with these vocational training programs and identifies the related variables that cause differences in their levels of satisfaction. The sample includes 397 respondents who were surveyed from June 23 to September 12, 2008. Moreover, the data are analyzed by conducting a one-way ANOVA, t-test, and Duncan's Multiple Range(DMR)test. The major results of the study are as follows. First, the vocational training programs in Jeju consist of lectures that cover various subjects. The programs mainly focus on work that offers relatively low wages and requires few skills, and the duration of the programs is short. Second, the original goal of the programs does not meet the needs of women who are seeking employment. The participants respond that they want more appropriate programs that are designed by considering their need for employment, support them in finding a job, and re-educate them. Third, most of the participants are satisfied with their vocational training experiences, and their satisfaction with the instructors is especially high. The differences in their levels of satisfaction are caused by economic characteristics such as the location of the student's residence, home ownership, and the level of life. The results of this study suggest that there is a need to separate vocational/employment training from general education for women. Moreover, the vocational training programs for women should be more specialized according to the different needs of each group.
