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The changing nature of work raises implications for those responsible for policy and practice in secondary education in relation to developing the secondary school curriculum to meet new skill demands. This exploratory study used three approaches to examine the relationships between academic and non-academic skills and work and identify issues for educators and policymakers. A literature review identified empirical research and issues related to academic skill needs and two data analyses viewed skills from the perspective of individuals in the workplace. The first examined academic skills in context through several case studies of sub-baccalaureate technical jobs in four industries. The emphasis was on the application of mathematics, science and technology in these occupations and illustrated how academic skill requirements are contextually bound. The second analysed existing longitudinal survey data on high school students and explored the relationships between academic skills, non-academic skills, and labour market performance. The idea that skills need to be viewed as multivariate is upheld in all three areas of research presented in this report.