1 Core Employability Skills in the Workplace by Carmela I. Torres ILO Sub-Regional Office for East Asia National Technical Workshop & Study Programme on Skills Training in the Workplace Bangkok, March, 2010

2 OUTLINE  Employability skills  Main features of employability skills  Why employability skills  Definition of core employability skills  Proposed model  Integrating core skills/key skills in skills development  Conclusions

3 Employability skills  Encompasses skills, knowledge and competencies that enhance a worker’s ability to: ----secure & retain a job ----progress at work ----cope with change ----have more ease in entering labour market  Have broad-based education and training  Have basic and portable skills  Skills which will allow them to adapt to changes in the world of work

4 Main Features  Broad-based education: solid foundation to allow further acquisition of knowledge, training & competencies  Portable high level skills: allow to be mobile & get job elsewhere, high standards for upward mobility  Acquisition of knowledge: constant acquisition & recycling of knowledge  Development competencies: have other important qualities like teamwork, problem solving, communication skills, etc

5 Current developments  Requirements of knowledge-based new economy, continuing impact of globalization, new ICTs  Rapid phase of change & changes in the workplace  Consequent pressures for continuing & lifelong learning  Need to maintain employability  Foster enterprise skills for improved competitiveness & productivity

6 SKILLS EMPLOYERS LOOK FOR  Be accountable  Strive for quality  Work hard- put in the effort  Be productive  Serve & care for others  Learn & develop all the time-LLL  Think & act like a business person  Develop & maintain an open mind  Know others, know the world  Act with honesty & integrity  Lead by your own good example  Accept people as they are and appreciate diversity ETC.

7 CORE EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS  Common skills, key skills that apply to any occupation aside from technical skills  General requirements of employment  Abilities an individual applies to work effectively & efficiently  Enabling competencies for work & life in general but valued highly in workplaces  Skills to prepare people for future change & adaptability

8 VERSIONS OF CORE SKILLS  Basic skills  Broad skills  Basic competencies  Common skills  Core skills  Core work skills  Employability skills  Essential skills  Generic skills  Key qualifications  Key skills  Life skills  Non-technical skills  Personal skills  Personal Competencies  Process skills  Social & life skills

9 COMPARISON by COUNTRIES AUSTRALIA: Key competencies  Collecting, analyzing & organizing info  Communicating ideas & info  Planning & organizing activities  Working with others & in teams  Using mathematical ideas & techniques  Solving problems  Using technology UNITED KINGDOM: Core skills  Communication  Communicating personal skills: improving own learning performance  Personal skills: Improving own learning & performance  Personal skills: Working with others  Numeric skills: application of numbers  Problem solving  Information technology

10 COMPARISON by COUNTRIES SINGAPORE:Employability skills  Workplace literacy & numeracy  ICT  Problem solving & decisions making  Communication & relationship mgt  LLL  Global mindset  Self-mgt  Workplace-related life skills  Health & workplace safety USA: Workplace know-how  Information-- foundation skills: basic skills  Resources-- foundation skills: personal qualities  Interpersonal skills  Foundation skills– basic skills  Technology systems

11 EMERGING MODEL Managerial Competencies Leadership Vision Empowering others Building trust Managing performance Judgment/decision- making Managerial Competencies Leadership Vision Empowering others Building trust Managing performance Judgment/decision- making Core Competencies Communication Teamwork Planning & organization Accountability Creativity Commitment to continuous learning Technological awareness Core Competencies Communication Teamwork Planning & organization Accountability Creativity Commitment to continuous learning Technological awareness Core Values Integrity Professionalism Respect for diversity Core Values Integrity Professionalism Respect for diversity

12 DEVELOPING & USING CORE EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS: FACTORS  Actual use vary from one job to another  May be driven by the economy, social orientation, industry requirements, productivity & organizational expectations  Employability & job retention aspects as key considerations  Skills for the survival of knowledge worker in a competitive economy

13 PROPOSED CORE EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS  Critical thinking & problem solving  Creative thinking skills  Accessing & using information  Communication skills  Teamwork  Technology application skills  Autonomous learning  Cross-cultural understanding

14 INTEGRATING CORE EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS  Paradigm shift in educational & training practices in a knowledge society  Learning through projects, diversity & design, discovery & invention, problems, action & reflection  Shift in the teaching & learning process

15 SHIFT IN LEARNING & TRAINING DELIVERY DIMENSIONS Learning focus Learning goal Teaching role Delivery Modes Learning structures Instructional modes Learning methods DESIRABLE Learning to learn Autonomous Facilitative Open Flexible Learning team centered Active

16 Next Generation Core Employability Skills Work & values clusters Basic IT Skills Self-mgt Time mgt Attitude & values Interpersonal clusters People skills Communication Team work Customer orientation Cultural Understanding Cognitive clusters Learning to learn Problem solving Critical thinking Innovation Adaptbility clusters Flexibility Ability to adopt Conflict resolution Negotiation

17 CONCLUSIONS  Knowledge workers require ability to adjust & captures key issues quickly  Core employability skills are not only important in the workplace but equally required across a spectrum of living experiences  Emerging workplace demands a set of new core skills for maintaining employability  No single list of core employability skills can be considered for one job or sector  Skills sets and competencies must be consigned to the learner  Possessing core skills will be a flexible approach as people move from one job to another

18 The end Thank you for your attention