Launch of the UK Standard Skills Classification

For the past two years research staff at the Warwick Institute for Employment Research (IER) and the University of Sheffield, in collaboration with Omnifolio, a community interest company, have been working to create the first Standard Classification of Skills (SSC) for the UK on behalf of Skills England.

The prototype version of this classification was released on November 27, 2025, accompanied by a Skills Explorer tool, allowing users to browse the classification and explore links to occupations and qualifications, plus an interim report, detailing the methodology and information sources and some examples of use cases. An overview of the tool and its beneficiaries is provided in the Skills England blog. announcing the publication of the classification.

The Skills Explorer tool incorporates a facility that allows users to comment on the results of a query in the Excel sheet, with links to external classifications, such as O*NET (DWAs, IWAs, Tasks) and ESCO skills, being available as download for information. All comments will be assessed as part of the review that the SSC prototype is now undergoing as it moves towards the release of version 1.0 of the classification in spring 2026.

The research team has made extensive use of newly developed AI tools, enabling them to create the prototype version of the SSC and its link to related classifications in a much shorter time than would otherwise have been possible. Nonetheless, human intervention and careful oversight have at all times been used to ensure that the information is relevant and up to date.

Initial responses to the release of the prototype have been favourable.

‘The release of the UK Standard Skills Classification UK-SSC) – alongside a wonderfully whizzy UK Skills Explorer tool – is, in a quiet way, the most significant thing to happen to the skills landscape in a generation…’
David Kernohan, WonkHE, 28/11/25

‘The publication of the UK Standard Skills Classification represents a watershed moment in the country’s ambition to build a more coherent, transparent, skills-driven economy
Simon Ravaioli, Times Higher Education Supplement, 15/12/25

The work to create the SSC has been funded by Skills England. The research team, consisting of Peter Elias (IER), Neil Bachelor (Omnifolio and IER), Andy Dickerson (University of Sheffield and IER), Jeisson Cardenas-Rubio (IER) and Rosie Day (IER), would like to thank the Skills England Advisory Group and staff at Skills England for their help and support.

For further information, contact Peter.Elias@warwick.ac.uk.