Developing and Validating Life and Career Skills Indicators for Sustainable Devel-opment among Underprivileged Groups in Multicultural Southern Thailand

บทคัดย่อ

Amid globalization, workforce adaptability and life and career skills are essential for sustaining livelihoods and fostering inclusive development, particularly among underprivileged groups in rural, multicultural areas. This study aimed to identify, synthesize, and validate life and career skills indicators to strengthen workforce capacity. Using document synthesis, expert interviews, and structured questionnaires, data were gathered from 200 participants for pilot testing and 500 for empirical validation. Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analyses examined the construct validity of the proposed framework. Findings revealed that local livelihoods rely on three primary occupations—rice farming, fisheries, and toddy palm—reflecting ecological resources and cultural diversity. Out of twenty-one initial components, seven core components consisted of 14 indicators of life and career skills were identified: 1) Business Planning and Management 2) Emotion and Attitude Management 3) Communication and Technology 4) Problem Analysis and Decision-Making 5) Professional Knowledge and Expertise 6) Innovative Marketing 7) Leadership and Accountability. Factor analysis confirmed the seven-component model, explaining 78.61% of the variance. The model showed excellent fit (χ²/df = 1.50, p = 0.998; GFI = 0.998; AGFI = 0.997; RMR = 0.028; RMSEA = 0.000), indicating an accurate representation of observed relationships. The findings highlight the importance of integrating traditional livelihoods with digital literacy, innovative thinking, and cross-cultural collaboration to improve resilience, adaptability, and employability. This study affirms that sustainable community development in multicultural contexts is contingent upon both the preservation of local heritage and the cultivation of modern competencies.