TVETipedia Glossary

Skill

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See also Skills.

For the difference between skill and competence/competency please see the entry Skills vs. Competence.

Skill is defined as the ability to carry out the tasks and duties of a given job. For the purposes of ISCO-08, two dimensions of skill are used to arrange occupations into groups. These are skill level and skill specialization.

Source:
ILO, ISCO: International Standard Classification of Occupations, 2008-2014
ILO, ISCO: International Standard Classification of Occupations, 2008-2014
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The International Classification of Occupations (ISCO) seeks to facilitate international communication about occupations by providing statisticians with a framework to make internationally comparable occupational data available, and by allowing international occupational data to be produced in a form that can be useful for research as well as for specific decision-making and action-oriented activities. The current version, known as ISCO-08, was published in 2008 and is the fourth iteration, following ISCO-58, ISCO-68 and ISCO-88.

Ability to apply knowledge and use know-how to complete tasks and solve problems.

Source: Cedefop, 2014; European Parliament and Council of the European Union, 2008

Source:
Cedefop, Glossary. Terminology of European education and training policy, (last accessed 10/2024)
Cedefop, Glossary. Terminology of European education and training policy, (last accessed 10/2024)
Access resource, available in English, French, German
This revised and expanded multilingual glossary defines 430 key terms used in European education and training policy. Building on the Terminology of European education and training policy – A selection of 130 key terms, published in 2014, this latest version, which draws on the experiences of Cedefop’s experts, gives new definitions and covers the latest European Union policy priorities, particularly on skills intelligence and employment.
Terms are provided in 8 languages: German, Greek, English, Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch and Portuguese. Definitions are available in English, German and French.

An ability to perform a particular mental or physical activity that may be developed through vocational training or practice.

Source:
NCVER (Australia), VOCEDplus: Glossary of VET, (accessed 05/2026)
NCVER (Australia), VOCEDplus: Glossary of VET, (accessed 05/2026)
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This glossary is a compilation of Australian vocational education and training (VET) terms and acronyms. It includes both current and historical terms, concepts, acronyms and other abbreviations found in Australian VET research, policy and data.

Ability to carry out mental or manual activity, acquired through learning and practice, where skill is an overarching term which includes knowledge, competency and experience as well as the ability to apply these in order to complete tasks and solve work-related problems.

Source:
ILO, Changing demand for skills in digital economies and societies: Literature review and case studies from low- and middle-income countries. (Glossary on pp. 12-13), 2021
ILO, Changing demand for skills in digital economies and societies: Literature review and case studies from low- and middle-income countries. (Glossary on pp. 12-13), 2021
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The report sheds light on changing demand for skills in digital economies and societies, based mostly on a literature review, supported by a set of case studies from low- and middle-income countries. It reviews different approaches to measuring digital skills, and discusses the impact of digitalization on skills and related policy recommendations. It shows that, while digitalization may vary widely in its extent and forms across countries and sectors, its impact on jobs and skills is nevertheless considerable everywhere.