CONDITIONS AND NEEDS FOR SKILL DEVELOPMENT FOR THE FUTURE OF LABOURS OUTSIDE THE EDUCATION SYSTEM IN THE WORKPLACE LINKED TO AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS IN SUPHANBURI PROVINC

Abstract

The main purpose of this research is to study and synthetic the conditions and needs for skill development for the future of labours outside the education system in the workplace linked to agricultural products in Suphanburi Province. The sampling group is from 86 workplaces in Suphanburi Province such as plant-based food factories, sugar factories, rice mills, and wood processing and wood products factories, and the samples were obtained by multistage random sampling. In addition, the tools that used for collected the data are questionnaires and focus group which researcher received 476 answers from workplaces’ managers, supervisors, office workers, production staffs, maintenance workers, and warehouse staffs. Furthermore, the statistics used in data analysis were frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and PNI Modified.
The result indicated as below: 1) The conditions of skill for the future of labours outside the education system in the workplace linked to agricultural products in Suphanburi Province are at high level (M = 3.68, S.D. = 0.64). The workplace that has the highest average on conditions is sugar cane factory (M= 3.95, S.D. = 0.65). The skill that has the highest average on conditions is social intelligence (M = 3.89, S.D. = 0.73). 2) The needs of skill development for the future of labours outside the education system in the workplace linked to agricultural products in Suphanburi Province are at high level (M = 4.03, S.D. = 0.81). The workplace that has the highest average on needs is feed mill factory (M = 3.58, S.D. = 0.58). The skill that has the highest average on needs is social intelligence (M = 4.11, S.D. = 0.90). The study showed that the necessary needs of skill development for the future of labours outside the education system in the workplace linked to agricultural products in Suphanburi Province is equal as (PNIModified = 0.10). The workplace that has the highest necessary needs is feed mill factory (PNIModified = 0.47), and the skill that has the highest necessary needs is to apply technology into work (PNIModified = 0.14). and 3) The results of focus group showed that future skill is significantly important for labours in workplaces with an emphasis on rational thinking skills and the use of technology in work.