ASSESSMENT OF SKILL NEEDS OF MODERN FURNITURE CRAFTSMEN FOR SELF-EMPLOYMENT IN SERVICE INDUSTRY IN MINNA, NIGER STATE

Abstract

This study assessment of skill needs of modern furniture craftsmen for self-employment in service industry in Minna, Niger State. Three research questions were raised and three research hypotheses were formulated to help guide the study. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design. The population for the study comprises of twenty (20) furniture companies located in Minna, Niger state. The sample size for the study was eight randomly selected furniture companies and a sample of sixty (65) respondents was obtained using the simple random sampling technique. The instrument for data collection was a questionnaire titled “Questionnaire on the Assessment of Skill Needs of Modern Furniture Craftsmen for SelfEmployment (QASMFSS)” which was validated by ITE experts and reliability testing using the Pearson Product Moment Correlation coefficient with a reliability index score of 0.79, the data was collected and analyzed using mean and standard deviation while the hypotheses were tested using the t-test statistics. Findings revealed that furniture craftsmen of service industries in Minna Niger state possess all the assessment skills, there are factors responsible for nonpracticing craftsmanship by craftsman. The findings also indicate that furniture craftsmen should be oriented on basic skill needs. Recommendations made amongst others include that there should be provision of appropriate learning resources and improved physical facilities to enable skill needs acquisition.