What are workplace basic skills?
Workplace basic skills are the basic communication, computer and math skills needed to function and progress at work. Examples include:

• writing and computing skills needed to complete paperwork, reports, and orders, and to write letters to customers and notes to colleagues.
• reading skills needed to understand health and safety notices, manuals, emails, and memos.
• speaking and listening skills needed to work well in a team, follow instructions, and communicate with customers.
• math skills needed to calculate money and time, measure, estimate, complete timesheets, and understand and use percentages, graphs and charts.

Why are workplace basic skills important?
Research reports that nearly 40% of workers in America have basic skills below the level necessary to function effectively and progress at work.

People with low levels of basic skills often work in low- income, low and semi-skilled jobs. These jobs have changed significantly in recent years with the introduction of new working practices, systems of vocational training, communication systems and technologies, quality procedures, and an increasing emphasis on customer service. These changes mean that employees now need better communication and maths skills than ever.

To be competitive, organizations must help their employees develop basic skills to be able to improve the way they do their job and improve performance.