The mediating effect of basic vocational competency in the effect of self-esteem on job search skills of Korean middle-aged job seekers

Abstract

Introduction. Middle-aged Koreans are constantly looking for jobs in order to re-employ, despite the insecurity of declining job quality and wage levels. In order to be re-employed, it is necessary to improve job-search skills. As a way to improve job search skills, the focus was on job-seekers' self-esteem and basic vocational competency. The purpose of this study is to investigate the mediating effect of vocational competency in the effect of self-esteem on job search skills. Study participants and methods. The participants in this study were 357 middle-aged job seekers aged 40 to 64 years old. 56.9% were women, 52.9% were in their 50s and 60s, and 46.2% were college graduates. 69.2% were married and 53.2% lived in small and medium-sized cities. By utilizing SPSS Win. 25.0 and PROCESS macro 3.5, descriptive statistics analysis, reliability analysis, correlation analysis, and mediating effect were analyzed. Results. First, the higher the self-esteem, the higher the basic vocational competency (r=.438, p<.001) and the job search skills (r=.497, p<.001). The higher the basic vocational competency, the job search skills (r=. 699, p<.001) was high. Second, the effect of self-esteem on job search skills was .516(p<.001), but in the model with additional basic vocational competency, it was reduced to .245(p<.001). Therefore, the mediating effect of basic vocational competency was verified. Practical significance. It was revealed that self-esteem and basic job skills are important to improve the job-search skills of middle-aged adults. Therefore, in order to support customized career design at the national level, it is suggested that vocational education programs should include not only certification courses, but also content for improving basic vocational competency and counseling for improving self-esteem.