Page 18 - CBW Handbook March 2019

PART TWO - ESSENTIAL SKILLS & YOUR SKILLS ASSESSMENT

Essential Skills
The Government of Canada, together with national and international organizations, has identified 9 essential skills that are required in
almost every job. The mastery of these skills may vary, but they form the building blocks for learning all other skills.

• Reading - scanning, understanding, analyzing and summarizing written text.

• Writing - using words and numbers to communicate information, provide analysis or make recommendations.
• Document use - finding, understanding and filling out documents such as graphs, charts and forms.

• Numeracy - using numbers in tasks such as measuring, converting to metric and developing budgets.
• Computer use - using technologies like computers and cash registers for tasks like word processing, email and

spreadsheets.
• Thinking - problem solving, prioritizing actions, decision making, finding, organizing and evaluating information.

• Oral communication - using speech to convey thoughts and information in tasks like delivering messages and
explaining problems.

• Working with others - working with supervisors or members of a team to complete tasks.
• Continuous learning - the lifelong process of acquiring new skills and knowledge, whether on the job, through

self-study or by taking formal courses.

Why is this Useful Information to Know?
By understanding the essential skills needed in a Canadian context for your occupation, you can prepare and plan for upgrading if
needed. It is also important to understand and present your skills and experience from your home country in a language and
terminology that Canadian employers understand.

For a detailed look at essential skills, the website link is:
https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/essential-skills/tools/what-aresential-skills.html

Over the past several years, the federal department of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada has conducted research
examining the skills people use at work. From this research and through interviews with workers, managers, practitioners and leading
researchers, over 350 Essential Skills Profiles have been developed for various occupations of the National Occupational Classification
(NOC).

Finding the Description of Skills Needed for Your Occupation or Target Job
You can explore essential skills through a specific target job by using this website, https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/essentialskills.
Just enter your target job into the box and click search. A profile will come up with the essential skill categories. Click on each category
to read the description.

Make note or print a copy of essential skills description for your target job.

Resource: The Government of Canada has many links and resources to help you improve your essential skills. Here is the link:
https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/essential-skills/tools.html

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