Essential Skills profiles describe how each of the nine Essential Skills are used by workers in a particular occupation. Over the past several years, the Government of Canada has conducted research examining the skills people use at work. From this research and through interviews with workers, managers, practitioners and leading researchers, approximately 250 Essential Skills profiles have been developed for various occupations of the National Occupational Classification . To date, profiles have been completed for all occupations requiring a high school education or less. Research is ongoing to complete occupations requiring university, college or apprenticeship training.

• A brief description of the occupation;
• A list of the most important Essential Skills;
• Examples of tasks that illustrate how each Essential Skill is applied;
• Complexity ratings that indicate the level of difficulty;
• The physical aspects of performing the job and the attitudes that workers feel are needed to do the job well;
• Future trends affecting Essential Skills.

• learn more about the skills you need in various occupations;
• develop workplace training programs, learning plans, or job descriptions;
• investigate career options, and;
• create educational tools to enhance skills development.

• How can I use the profiles.
• Search the profiles
• List of all profiles
• How others are using the profiles
• Reader's Guide
• Essential Skills Research Project