Charting a Course: Responding to the Industry-Related
Adult Basic Education Needs of the Texas Workforce
Handbook Two: Workplace Savy for Workforce-related Instruction
Modules #5 & 6

Module Five: Identifying Adult Learners’ Work-Related Proficiencies and Needs

What Are Workplace Basic Skills?

Workplace Basic Skills are the core skills that employees need to do their jobs successfully. These skills are critical to the success of modern businesses. They are also crucial in public sector workplaces such as hospitals, schools and government offices.

Workplace basic skills include literacy skills and other important skills, attitudes and behaviors that are essential to workplace success and high performance.

Gaining basic skills also has a positive impact on employees' attitudes and behaviors. This is often just as valuable to employers as the skills gains themselves.

For example, employees who improve their basic skills are also likely to become more conscientious. Once they become fully aware of what is expected of them and how their efforts fit into the big picture, and then receive the skills to meet those demands, the quality of their work generally rises.

Workplace Basic Skills include:

• Understanding and ability to use prose (such as reports, letters, and equipment manuals)
• Communicating effectively in English
• Understanding and ability to use documents (such as safety instructions, assembly directions, maps)
• Understanding and ability to use numbers by themselves or in charts and tables
• Thinking critically and acting logically to solve problems and make decisions
• Using computers, technology, tools and information systems effectively
• Ability to build and work in teams
• Positive attitude toward change
• Willingness and ability to learn for life

Source: Workplace Basic Skills include the International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS) definition of literacy skills.