Why is the Essential Skills initiative important?

Launched on April 1, 2003, the Essential Skills and Workplace Initiative helps to ensure Canadians have the right skills for changing work and life demands.  Its goal is to enhance the skill levels of Canadians who are entering, or already in, the workforce.  The initiative does this by increasing awareness and understanding of Essential Skills, supporting the development of tools and applications, building on existing research and working with other Government of Canada programs.

How can the Essential Skills framework help employers?

The Essential Skills Framework can help employers enhance their HR practices.  Various tools have been developed to assist employers to:

• perform Essential Skills needs assessments
• develop targetted job descriptions
• recruit and select people with the right skills
• set clear expectations for staff and effectively monitor their performance
• develop succession plans

What are some of the benefits gained by organizations who have implemented the Essential Skills framework?

Organizations that have implement the Essential Skills framework have attained a number of economic benefits including:

• increased output of products and services
• reduced time per task
• reduced error rates
• improved health and safety records
• increased customer retention
• improved capacity to cope with workplace change
• increased capacity to use new technology in the workplace
• improved employee morale
• reduced absenteeism

All of the above results have a significant impact on productivity and profitability.