Monday 7 March 2016

Importance of Essential Employability Skills (EES) to Adults and Young People

  • What are employability skills in the context of essential skills in Wales?
 
A range of skills (generic skills) that people need to achieve progress and success in all aspects of learning, training, work and life in general. Employability skills are capabilities that enable people to get a job, have confidence, plan and implement their plan, reflect on and review progress as well as develop further.
 
References:
http://qualificationswales.org/qualifications/essential-skills-qualifications/?lang=en

 
 
  • What is meant by the following terms ( namely EES )
 

Planning and Organisation Skills – ability to organise personal time, identify goals and aims, prioritise tasks and measure results; being able to define the main purpose of a task, set targets and timescales and list the activities to allow for achievement of each target.
 
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving – identify relevant information within a situation which then requires decision making; ability to question and search for answers and arguments rather than just accept given information and apply arguments to solve tasks/situations.
 
Creativity and Innovation - outline new ideas (new ideas to the learner) and use opportunities to try out ideas; ability to have an open mind, think outside the box and recognise unique ideas; state opportunities in response to a task using convergent and divergent approaches challenging own thinking.
 Personal Effectiveness – identify personal skills that can be used effectively in the context of a task or relevant to personal aspirations (e.g. attitude, time management, self-motivation etc.); capability to be self-aware, make the most of personal strengths and be proactive.
 
 
 
·         What is the role of employability skills for individuals?

Employability skills are necessary to engage learners in social and cognitive learning tasks, necessary for improving wellbeing and family life and therefore have a crucial role in cultivating confidence and employability. Essential skills and knowledge could be used in everyday life in dimensions relevant to each person and therefore would support motivation, mental development and have a direct impact on self-confidence and financial status to name but of a few aspects. Employability skills enable the individual to develop on a personal and professional level.

 

·        What is the impact of individuals not having EES?

 
Gaps in essential skills have crucial consequences for progression and further performance in learning, work but especially key impact on individual wellbeing and quality of life. Good essential employability skills are crucial in determining educational or training attainment, improve employment prospects and better social cohesion (Dixon, et.al, 2000) therefore a lack in EES would have a fundamental detrimental effect on local communities and society in general.

There are seven million adults in England who cannot read and write to the level expected of an 11-year-old. Furthermore reports show that 16% of 18 year olds are NEET (not in education, employment or training) and many of them struggle to communicate well (Godfrey et. al, 2002).

References:
Godfrey, C., Hutton, S., Bradshaw, J., Coles, B., Craig, G. and Johnson, J. (2002), Estimating the cost of being 'not in education, employment or training' at age 16-18, Research Report, 346, Department for Education and Skills, Nottingham.


 

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