What are Essential Skills?
Essential Skills are the underlying skills used to complete everyday work tasks. There are nine such skills needed for success in the workplace. These skills are required to some degree in all jobs. Three essential skills – Reading, Numeracy and Document Use – were identified as the most important skills for professional drivers.
%
of employers report improved employee performance after Essential Skills activities
Reading
Reading and understanding written material in various forms such as notes, letters, memos, manuals, specifications, regulations, books, reports or journals.
Document Use
Working with text and/or visual information such as symbols, numbers, letters and images in various formats such as labels, lists, signs, graphs, charts, tables, forms, and similar materials.
Numeracy
Working with numbers and thinking in quantitative terms; for example, doing tasks like estimating, money math, scheduling or budgeting math and analyzing measurements and/or data.