A skills classification for the UK: plans for development and maintenance

Skills are at the heart of some of the UK's most pressing challenges: reducing inequality, improving our productivity, and implementing the net-zero transition. Ranging from the need for basic literacy and numeracy at work, to the application of complex scientific, medical, and technical expertise, the identification and development of the skills required for our future labour force is vital. Despite the importance of this requirement, the measurement and assessment of skills in the UK remains fragmented and deficient, and the language used to describe skills is inconsistent and unnecessarily complicated.

A classification of skills is essentially a comprehensive list of all the skills and associated knowledge required to carry out job-related tasks. When linked across occupations, qualifications and training courses, a classification becomes a powerful tool which can serve a variety of purposes, from job analysis and employee recruitment to careers advice and labour market analysis. It enables better matching between the needs of employers and the skills available in the workforce. It means that a 'skill shortage' can be both defined and identified with greater precision, enabling qualification and training providers to plan for the provision of specific skills. It provides careers guidance specialists with the tools and language to advise labour market entrants on the ways to achieve specific career pathways. From a statistical perspective, it makes possible the linking of information on skills from various sources.

This report details how the functional requirements for a classification of skills were identified and sets out how it will be developed to meet these needs in the UK.

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