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Comparison of HRSDC's Essential Skills and the Essential Skills Listed in the OSP

Through extensive research, Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC) and other national and international agencies, identified and validated a list of 9 Essential Skills that people need for work, learning and life. However, the list of skills in the OSP is greater. Why is there a difference in the number of skills?

The chart below shows HRSDC's list of Essential Skills on the left and the corresponding list of Essential Skills in the OSP on the right.

# HRSDC’s 9 Essential Skills OSP Skills
1. Reading Text Reading Text
2. Writing Writing
3. Document Use Document Use
4. Computer Use Computer Use
5. Oral Communication Oral Communication
6. NUMERACY
  • Money Math

  • Scheduling or Budgeting and Accounting
  • Measurement and Calculation
  • Data Analysis
  • Numerical Estimation
    		•
  • Money Math

  • Scheduling or Budgeting and Accounting
  • Measurement and Calculation
  • Data Analysis
  • Numerical Estimation
    		•
    7. THINKING SKILLS
  • Job Task Planning and Organizing

  • Decision Making
  • Problem Solving
  • Finding Information
    		•
  • Job Task Planning and Organizing

  • Decision Making
  • Problem Solving
  • Finding Information
    		•
     
  • Significant Use of Memory
    		•
  • Significant Use of Memory is not included in the OSP database.
    		•
     
  • Critical Thinking
    		•
  • Critical Thinking is not included in the OSP database.
    		•
    8.
  • Working with Others
    		•
  • Working with Others is included as an OSP Work Habit.
    		•
    9.
  • Continuous Learning
    		•
  • Continuous Learning is not included in the OSP.
    		•


    Why is there a different number of skills listed in the OSP?

    1. The OSP lists the 5 numeracy-related skills separately. This allows for a more precise identification and development of a person’s mathematical literacy and its application in the workplace.

    2. The OSP only includes the Essential Skills that have a complexity rating scale. This allows for a consistent method of assessing skills and planning/tracking skill development over time. Currently, Continuous Learning is not included in the OSP and Working with Others is included as a work habit.

    3. The OSP lists the "Thinking Skills" separately and includes only those that have a complexity rating scale. They are: Job Task Planning and Organizing, Decision Making, Problem Solving and Finding Information.


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