Basic Skills Facts for Employers

Why are Basic Skills Important?

An estimated 20% of the population, some 7 million adults have poor basic skills. A significant proportion of these are currently in the workforce.

Employment
 
Job opportunities for people without basic skills are limited. A report by the Institute of Employment Studies found that:
  • 90% of jobs require communication skills.
  • 50% of jobs require numeracy skills.
  • Lack of Basic skills can hinder access to all education and training which prevents the improvement of an individual's job skills.
     
  • Employees gaining Basic Skills in the workplace, contribute to a more effective, flexible and adaptable workforce, which in turn increases competitiveness.
     
  • The Basic Skills Agency states that: "There is clearly a link between the need for good basic skills and employability." Yet, the evidence is that only a small amount of basic skills training goes on the workplace.
     
  • The International Adult Literacy Survey found that adults with basic skills were less likely to participate in training. Either because they do not have the initial skills required to train or through lack of opportunity.
The TUC is working in partnership with the Department for Education and Skills and importantly, the Basic Skills Agency on a number of Basic Skills projects. The Moser Report has pointed out the key role for trade unions in the area of basic skills needs. Because of the unique position of confidence and trust that the union and its representative have in the workplace, they have the powerful potential to reach learners with basic skills needs.

Value of Basic Skills To Employers

Employment
  • Raises the skills levels of the workforce
  • Improves work performance
  • Reduces Errors and Poor Quality
  • Improves Staff Morale
  • Helps to introduce a Learning Culture into the Organisation
  • Employers demonstrate commitment to employees development

Basic Skills can provide the means for employers to develop their employees in order to meet a whole range of current demands and initiatives: rapid change in Information Technology, addressing the skills gaps, the Investors In People programme, lifelong learning, widening participation, equal opportunities, the University for Industry, Modern Apprenticeships, National Traineeships, to name but a few.

Basic skills costs employers over £4.8 billion ech year as a result of poor quality control, bad communications and the need to recruit staff externally.

How does Basic Skills benefit Employees?

  • Career Progression and increased confidence
  • Greater job satisfaction
  • Foundation for further training
Investors in People
 
The Moser Report recommended that the new Investors in People Standards should include requirements for companies to have effective arrangements for dealing with Basic Skills difficulties.

Basic Skills Training is FREE OF CHARGE.

The Moser Report into basic skills stated that basic skills should be free as it is only right that those who have missed out early in life should have free access to acquiring the basic skills necessary to succeed in life.

For more detailed information on Trade Union Issues around Basic Skills please call the TUC Learning Services North West on 0151 236 2321.

Back to the Basic Skills Project home.