Essential Skills

 

Essential skills enable people to perform tasks required by their jobs as well as adapt to change. They

are also generic skills that are used in virtually all occupations and throughout daily life. They are

transferable from school to work, job to job and from one situation to another. They also provide the

foundation for learning other skills e.g. technical skills and job/workplace skills.



There are nine Essential Skills:

 

  • Reading Text
  • Working with Others
  • Document Use
  • Continuous Learning
  • Numeracy
  • Thinking Skills
  • Oral Communication
  • Computer Use
  • Writing
 



Reading:

Understanding materials written in sentences or paragraphs (e.g. letters, manuals).



Document Use:

Using and understanding labels, graphs, signs and other similar materials.



Numeracy:

Money Math - the use of mathematical skills in making financial transactions, such as handling cash,

preparing bills, and making payments.

 

Scheduling or Budgeting and Accounting - planning for the best use of time and money, as well as

monitoring of the use of time and money.

 

Measurement and Calculation - the measurement and calculation of quantities, areas, volumes, and/or

distances.

 

Data Analysis - the collection and analysis of data in numerical form.

 

Numerical Estimation - the production of estimates in numerical form.



Writing:

The preparation of written materials for a variety of purposes.



Oral Communication:

Using speech to share thoughts and information.



Working with Others:

Interacting with others to complete tasks.



Thinking Skills:

Job Task Planning and Organizing - the planning and organization of one's own work.

Decision Making - the making of any type of decision, using appropriate information.

Problem Solving - the identification and solving of problems.

Finding Information - the use of a variety of sources, including: written text, people, computerized

databases, and information systems. Also see reading text, document use, and oral communication.



Computer use:

Using computers and other technical tools (e.g. fax machines, photocopiers)



Continuous Learning:

Participating in an ongoing process of gaining skills and knowledge (e.g. workplace training).

 

Work Habits:

  • Working safely
  • Initiative
  • Teamwork
  • Self Advocacy
  • Reliability
  • Customer Service
  • Organization
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Working Independently