What is skilled labor?
Skilled labor refers to work requiring employees to have specialized skills to perform their job duties effectively. Typically, workers have a degree related to their profession or have completed specific training to further their knowledge and learn the skills necessary to pursue their careers.
Due to this additional training, skilled laborers tend to tackle more job responsibilities than unskilled laborers and have more in-depth knowledge of their particular industry.
Companies that employ skilled labor typically implement workforce management solutions in their human resources (HR) departments. These tools help organizations plan, manage, and track employee work, including labor requirements, employee schedules, and paid time off (PTO).
Skills required for skilled labor professions
Various jobs require workers to have skills relevant to their role. Three types of skills that professionals in skilled labor roles should have include:
- Foundational skills: Foundational skills are fundamental. They serve as the basis for supporting additional operations and tasks. These skills are not job-specific and can be applied across various professions. Workers who develop these skills are more likely to be competitive in the job market. Examples of foundational skills are listening to instructions, reading a manual, writing a memo, and working well in a team setting.
- Transferable skills: Transferable skills are qualifications an individual can use in any professional environment. Workers gain these skills from each career experience, including volunteer positions and internships. Employers often seek out employees with transferable skills as they know these individuals have developed the skills necessary to perform beyond what is listed in their job description. For example, if an employee knows how to work in one spreadsheet type, chances are they will be able to navigate any spreadsheet. Problem-solving, analytical reasoning, critical thinking, creativity, and attention to detail are other examples of highly sought-after transferable skills.
- Technical skills: As opposed to interpersonal or soft skills, specialized training refers to the hard skills or vocational training employees need to perform the daily tasks associated with their jobs. In addition to IT skills such as computer programming, data analysis, and software development, other technical skills include sales, business writing, project management, and customer service. Employees often learn technical skills via a university degree program, on-the-job training, or job experience.
Examples of skilled labor professions
Skilled labor is generally characterized by higher education and expertise earned through training or on-the-job experience. Some examples of skilled labor professions include:
- Lawyers
- Doctors
- Nurses
- Accountants and financial consultants
- Architects
- Engineers
- Administrative assistants
- Law enforcement officers
- Plumbers
- Electricians
- Chefs
- Carpenters
Skilled labor vs. semi-skilled labor vs. unskilled labor
To attain a complete understanding of skilled labor, it’s important to note the differences between skilled labor, semi-skilled labor, and unskilled labor. As mentioned above, skilled labor professions require specialized training.
Like skilled labor, positions considered semi-skilled involve some training. However, the training is often basic, as the skills are generally not overly specialized.
In semi-skilled labor positions, the skills used usually include monitoring or completing repetitive tasks. Individuals who perform semi-skilled labor typically have a high school diploma but less than a college degree. Truck drivers, flight attendants, taxi drivers, and retail salespeople are a few examples of semi-skilled labor.
In comparison to skilled labor, unskilled labor lies on the opposite end of the spectrum. Unskilled labor refers to a workforce segment where workers do not have any specialized skills and likely have no formal education.
Due to technological and societal advances, the jobs that require unskilled labor are continually shrinking. Additionally, jobs that were once considered unskilled now require training. For example, a farm laborer must have specific skills to operate farm machinery. Today, the pay gap continues to increase between unskilled and skilled labor.
Amanda Hahn-Peters
Amanda Hahn-Peters is a freelance copywriter for G2. Born and raised in Florida, she graduated from Florida State University with a concentration in Mass Media Studies. When she’s not writing, you’ll find Amanda coaching triathletes, cuddling up with a good book, or at the theater catching the latest musical.
