Developing a UK Skills Taxonomy

This project is being carried out by a consortium of researchers led by Professor Peter Elias and Dr Jeisson Cardenas-Rubio at the Warwick Institute for Employment Research, Professor Andy DickersonLink opens in a new window at the University of Sheffield, and Neil Bachelor from Omnifolio C.I.CLink opens in a new window., a non-profit online profiling and job-matching service.

The project is now in phase 2 following the completion of the phase 1 design stage.

Download the Phase 1 reportLink opens in a new window

AI techniques

The IER are using locally run Large Language Models, such as Llama 3Link opens in a new window, to assist with the construction of the Standard Skills Classification.

We are using novel methods to analyse tasks and skills from the IER's job vacancy database to validate these components in the Skills Taxonomy.

Project sponsor

This project is funded by the Unit for Future Skills at the Department for Education (DfE).

For the build phase, the DfE has been joined by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) Link opens in a new windowto oversee the development along with an advisory group containing other public sector organisations such as the ONS and representatives from all of the UK devolved nations.