Use of Patent Analysis for the Future Skills-needs in Information Security

This study attempts to develop a methodology that analyzes patent applications to identify future skills, in particular in the sector of information security, recently into the spotlight. Matching skill elements from the International Patent Classification (IPC) with skill units from job analysis, the study tries to track trends in the skills needs based on IPC time-pattern. It then verifies the validity of the outlook for future skills needs by addressing the situation through the use of patents. The research assesses the usability of patent information for this type of analysis. While this study is limited to the information security sector by using Korean patent information, it can be expanded in the future to other areas and patents in the United States and Europe.