Employability skills - what employers want

Jan 2011

The Employability Matrix, which Asset Skills first developed in 2008, defines employability as the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours required by people to seek, obtain and sustain employment at all levels in the labour market.

The matrix is now due for revision and there is an opportunity to share your views on the skills you consider essential for employability and so shape the content of future employability qualifications.

The matrix is a recognised framework used by Asset Skills to approve all generic employability skills qualifications and is also used as a checklist by learning providers and others to identify existing skills and areas for development. It is widely accepted as the standard on which all employability learning and training should be based.

The Employability Matrix is divided into sub-sections covering:

• Fundamental skills such as communication and numeracy

• Self-management skills such as time management and personal development

• Workplace skills such as problem solving and team working

We would like to hear from employers, awarding organisations, learning providers and other interested parties on what they think the revised Employability Matrix should include.

The survey will go live during the week beginning Monday 7 February 2011. If you would like to participate please contact either Lisa Hartnell at lhartnell@assetskills.org or Sharon Simpson at ssimpson@assetskills.org.

The survey will close on Monday 28 February 2011 and the feedback received will inform the content of the revised Employability Matrix, which is due to be published in July 2011. We look forward to hearing your views.