The 9 Essential Skills

The Government of Canada has identified nine essential skills needed for the
workplace. These skills are used in every job to varying degrees and at
different levels of complexity. They provide the foundation for learning all
other skills and enable people to evolve with their jobs and adapt to workplace
change.

Reading
Reading is the ability to
understand text written
in sentences or
paragraphs. Strong
reading skills are
essential to being able
to learn and find
information quickly and
easily.

Working With Others

Working With Others is
the ability to work with
other workers to carry
out tasks. Work as a
member of a team or
jointly with a partner,
and engage in
supervisory or
leadership activities.

Thinking

Oral Communication

Thinking is the ability to

find information,
identify and evaluate
solutions to a problem,
make decisions, and
plan and organize daily
tasks.

Oral Communication is
the ability to use speech
to give and exchange
thoughts and
information clearly and
concisely.

Numeracy

Document Use

Computer Use
Computer Use is the
ability to use
computers, software
and applications as well
as other related
technical tools such as a
fax machine, cash
registers,
calculators, automated
bank machines, send
emails and create and
modify spreadsheets.

Writing
Writing is the ability to
write with a clear
purpose such as to
inform or request
information. Use
appropriate sentence
structure, punctuation,
wording, and tone.

Continuous Learning

Numeracy is the ability

to use numbers and
think in quantitative
terms. Numerical
estimating, money
math, scheduling,
budgeting and
analyzing
measurements or data.

Document Use is the

ability to find,
understand or
enter information (e.g.
text, symbols,
numbers) in different
types of documents.

Continuous Learning is
expanding your ability
to learn by regularly
upgrading your skills
and increasing your
knowledge. Learn as
part of regular work or
from co-workers and
when we access
training in the
workplace or off-site.