Workplace Basic Skills in Washington State Home Page

 

Workplace Basic Skills



Today's high-performance workplace requires different employee skills than were needed in the past.
The traditional definition of workplace literacy--the ability to read, write and compute to meet job requirements--
has gradually changed. The new view of basic skills incorporates the skills requested most often by employers.

Basic Skills for the Changing Workplace

Learning to Learn

personal, interpersonal, cognitive

Group Effectiveness

interpersonal, negotiation, teamwork

Thinking Skills

problem solving, higher order thinking, creative thinking

Personal Management

Self-esteem, goal setting/motivation, personal development, career planning and development, life skills

Influence

organizational effectiveness, career growth within an organization, leadership

Math

financial services, budgeting, spending, tables, charts, graphs, transportation, measurement

Reading

information, signs, symbols, labels, forms, applications, legal documents, instructions, memos, policy/procedural manuals, visual materials (diagrams, illustrations, tables, charts, graphs)

Writing

forms, organizing and outling, use of standard written English, letters, descriptions, reports

Communication

listening (receive and respond, nonverbally), speaking (provide information, convince, request, verbally)

Developed from a joint Washington State and Oregon project built upon the ASTD Workplace Basics and coordinated with SCANS Skills.
Competencies validated with Northwest employers.


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