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.
Version 1.0 of the classification has been published and you can explore it via the UK Skills Explorer digital tool.
Project overview
The Warwick Institute for Employment Research (IER), the University of Sheffield, in collaboration with Omnifolio have created the first Standard Classification of Skills (SSC) for the UK on behalf of Skills England (an Executive Agency of the Department for Work and Pensions, formerly sponsored by the Department for Education).
The Standard Skills Classification (SSC):
- Is a standardised set of lists that identify the skills, knowledge and tasks required across UK occupations.
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Provides a common language, helping everyone including individual job seekers and employers to navigate the world of skills with confidence.
- Is made available through the free online resource (UK Skills Explorer Digital tool) for individuals, careers advisors, employers, local and national government officers and others involved in labour market analysis.
The project began in 2023 when 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. Work began to build the classification in March 2024.
Initial work was led by the Warwick Institute for Employment Research working closely with the DfE and Skills England, along with a broader advisory group.