Differences in Sub-program Placement and Attrition According to Self-Sufficiency Competency Diagnostic Groups of Gateway Participants

This descriptive survey study examined the multidimensional self-reliance competency of participants in the initial 'Gateway' stage of the Self-Sufficiency Program at a local Self-Sufficiency Center in the Jeonbuk region, empirically investigating differences in subsequent sub-program placement and post-placement attrition rates across baseline competency diagnostic tiers(Groups A, B, and C).Quantitative data from 214 participants who completed the competency assessment tool during the 2025 Gateway process were analyzed using SPSS Statistics 27.0.The empirical findings showed that participants were classified into Group A (short-term target; n=101, 47.2%), Group B (mediumterm target; n=108, 50.5%), and Group C (long-term target; n=5, 2.3%), revealing a pronounced ceiling effect in the current diagnostic assessment.Actual sub-program placement rates (Group A: n=27, 26.7%; Group B: n=25, 23.1%; Group C: n=1, 20.0%) showed no statistically significant difference between tiers (Fisher p=.366).Furthermore, attrition rates following program placement(GA:n=6,22.2%, Group B:n=4,16.0%,Group C:n=0) also demonstrated no statistically significant difference across the groups(Fisher p=.775).Across all tiers, the primary reasons for non-placement and dropouts were health deterioration, family caregiving burdens, and personal discontinuation.In conclusion, the current baseline diagnostic classification exhibits critical limitations in discriminating and predicting actual field placement and job retention.Consequently, to prevent dropouts and maximize program effectiveness, it is imperative to redesign the diagnostic assessment weights to reflect multifaceted environmental vulnerabilities realistically, incorporate tailored vocational training during the early Gateway stage, and establish an integrated multi-agency support network linking participants to local public health centers, mental health agencies, and caregiving voucher services.