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An empirical study of occupational families in the youth labour market
Author(s) -
STAFFORD ELIZABETH M.,
JACKSON PAUL R.,
BANKS MICHAEL H.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
journal of occupational psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.257
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 2044-8325
pISSN - 0305-8107
DOI - 10.1111/j.2044-8325.1984.tb00156.x
Subject(s) - context (archaeology) , sample (material) , perception , interpersonal communication , psychology , cluster (spacecraft) , job analysis , hierarchical clustering , cluster analysis , business , marketing , social psychology , computer science , job satisfaction , geography , chemistry , archaeology , chromatography , neuroscience , machine learning , programming language
This research aims at identifying job families for use in broadly based training for young people. A total of 455 job incumbents in the youth labour market were interviewed using the Job Components Inventory (JCI). The job sample was heterogeneous, reflecting a wide range of industries and job titles; some of these were skilled but mainly they were semi‐ and unskilled. The JCI covers the use of tools and equipment, physical and perceptual skills, mathematical requirements, communication, decision making and responsibility. Cluster analysis of items identified 36 skill components. These formed the basis for job‐holder profiles, which in turn were grouped by hierarchical clustering. The optimal solution resulted in six clusters, the characteristics of which were described in terms of JCI component scores. The six clusters were labelled as clerical, skilled interpersonal, operative, unskilled manual, intermediate skilled technical and skilled technical. The stability of these six clusters was assessed using split‐half replications. Results are discussed and evaluated in the context of contemporary youth training needs.