Work skills in Britain 1986-2001

This report presents the findings from the 2001 Skills Survey into the skills utilised at work by employed individuals in Britain aged 20-60 years. It follows on from the 1997 Skills Survey (a report on this survey is indexed at TD/TNC 65.349) and updates existing knowledge of the skills being used in Britain's changing workplaces. The report outlines how a number of different aspects of work skill can be measured and examines the distribution of skills among workers. It also describes the changes that have occurred since 1986 through a comparison with the outcomes of previous surveys and investigates the extent to which different types of skills are valued in the labour market. Specifically, the report: (a) considers broad measures of skill, i.e. the qualification level, the training time and the learning time required for jobs; (b) examines several detailed generic skills used across all occupations; and (c) provides separate chapters on computer skills and task discretion. The chapters are: Introduction: context and objectives; Methodology; The distribution of skills at work in Britain; Skill trends; Computing skills; Employee task discretion; The value of skills; Conclusion: themes and implications for skills research. A technical annex with information on sample design, data collection and fieldwork management, and survey outcomes is provided. Show less