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Institute for Employment Research Standard Skills Classification

Standard Skills Classification

The UK is creating a new classification to standardise the language of skills.

Having the right skills in the right place at the right time is vital for economic growth.

We are building a classification to help individuals, employers and educators identify, understand and explain them more easily.

The development phase is now underway, and we plan to launch a prototype skills classification later this year.

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Project overview

In 2023 the UK Government’s Department for Education (DfE) commissioned a project to consult with stakeholders and produce a report proposing a design for a UK standard skills classification.

The proposal has since been approved and work began to build the classification in March 2024. The work group is led by the Warwick Institute for Employment Research working closely with the DfE and Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE), along with a broader advisory group, supporting development.