Essential Skills

 

icons
 

click to play

INTRODUCTION

In 2003 the NSSC embarked on a project called Essential Skills . The essence of this initiative helps to ensure Canadians have the right skills for changing work and life demands. Our goal is to enhance the skill levels of Canadians who are entering - or are already in - the workforce. With Human Resources and Skills development Canada , NSSC along with other sector councils, businesses, labour groups, and sector like organizations can increase awareness and understanding of Essential Skills, by supporting the development of tools, applications, and building on existing research.

 

 

WHAT ARE ESSENTIAL SKILLS

Essential Skills are the skills people need for work, learning and life. They provide the foundation for learning all other skills and are the cornerstone of lifelong learning. Essential skills underlie the performance of most workplace tasks.

Through extensive research, the Government of Canada and other national and international agencies have identified and validated nine Essential Skills:

  • Reading Text
    		•
  • Writing
    		•
  • Continuous Learning
  • Document Use
    		•
  • Oral Communications
  • Thinking Skills
    		•
  • Numeracy
    		•
  • Working with Other
    		•
  • Computer Use
    		•

    An increasing number of Canadians are recognizing the importance of lifelong learning and workplace skills training as they are closely linked to productivity, adaptability and innovation.

     

    HARD & SOFT RETURNS OF
    ESSENTIAL SKILLS TRAINING

    The Conference Board of Canada conducted numerous case studies with companies across Canada who implemented and invested in Essential Skills training, and these were the outcomes:

    • Hard Returns
      • Safer more productive workplace
      • Zero voluntary turnover
      • Reduced overtime hours
      • Lower absenteeism
      • Improved employee retention
      • Employees moved up to supervisory positions
         
    • Soft Returns
      • Employees take more pride in their work
      • Teams have improved communications and cooperation
      • Employees have improved self-confidence
      • Employees show more initiative and become more innovative
      • Employees become better at recognizing and solving proble

     

    TOOLS FOR THE WORLD OF WORK

    Over the past 3 years the NSSC has developed a package of essential skills tools that we call Workplace Essentials. Workplace Essentials focuses on 3 essential skills… Document Use, Oral Communication, and Thinking Skills (which encompasses Job Task Planning and Organizing).

    The NSSC has developed the following products:

    • Workplace Essentials Multiple Choice Exam
    • Workplace Essentials Performance Checklist
    • Workplace Essentials Assessment Activities
    • Workplace Essentials Coaching and Upgrading Tools

    Workplace Essentials are great for employers if they need to:

    • Promote an employee to a supervisor,
    • Hire a new employee in a supervisory position
    • Evaluate competency skills
    • Upgrade the skills of a soon to be supervisor

     

     

     

    Canada

    This initiative is funded by the Government of
    Canada's Sector Council Program.