View category - Abilities

Skills and Competencies Taxonomy 2023 Version 1.0

Innate and developed aptitudes that facilitate the acquisition of knowledge and skills to carry out expected work.

Cognitive Abilities

Abilities that influence the acquisition and application of knowledge in performing various mental processes at work.

Descriptor	Definition
Categorization Flexibility	The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Deductive Reasoning	The ability to apply general rules to produce logical answers for specific problems.
Fluency of Ideas [Endnotes] This descriptor has similarities with the descriptor "Creativity and innovation" from the ESDC-Skills for Success model. The definition of "Creativity and innovation" is: Your ability to imagine, develop, express, encourage, and apply ideas in ways that are novel, unexpected, or challenge existing methods and norms. For example, we use this skill to discover better ways of doing things, develop new products, and deliver services in a new way. The Skills and Competencies Taxonomy and Skills for Success definitions are slightly different because they have different purposes and target groups.	The ability to come up with multiple ideas about a topic.
Inductive Reasoning	The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions, which includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events.
Information Ordering	The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Problem Identification [Endnotes] For the purposes of the Taxonomy, the title of the O*NET descriptor "Problem Sensitivity" has been changed to "Problem Identification". The French translation is titled "Détection de problèmes".	The ability to identify an existing or potential problem. It is not about solving the problem, but only about recognizing its presence.
Selective Attention	The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
General Learning Ability	The ability to "catch on" or understand instructions and underlying principles to reason and make judgments.
Form Perception	The ability to perceive pertinent detail in objects and graphic material; to make visual comparisons and discriminations and to see slight differences in shapes and shadings of figures and widths and lengths of lines.
Mathematical Reasoning [Endnotes] This descriptor has some similarities with the descriptor "Numeracy" from the ESDC-Skills for Success model. The definition of “Numeracy” is: Your ability to find, understand, use, and report mathematical information presented through words, numbers, symbols, and graphics. For example, we use this skill to perform calculations, manage budgets, analyze and model data and make estimations. The Skills and Competencies Taxonomy and Skills for Success definitions are slightly different because they have different purposes and target groups.	The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
Numerical Ability [Endnotes] This descriptor has some similarities with the descriptor "Numeracy" from the ESDC-Skills for Success model. The definition of “Numeracy” is: Your ability to find, understand, use, and report mathematical information presented through words, numbers, symbols, and graphics. For example, we use this skill to perform calculations, manage budgets, analyze and model data and make estimations. The Skills and Competencies Taxonomy and Skills for Success definitions are slightly different because they have different purposes and target groups.	The ability to carry out arithmetical processes accurately such as addition, subtraction, multiplication or division.
Memorizing [Endnotes] "Memorization" covers "Significant Use of Memory" from the Essential Skills framework.	The ability to remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, or procedures.
Multitasking [Endnotes] For the purposes of the Taxonomy, the title of the O*NET descriptor “Time sharing” has been changed to “Multitasking”. The French translation is titled “Tâches multiples”.	The ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information during the same time period (such as speech, sounds, touch, or other sources).
Pattern Identification	The ability to identify or detect a known pattern such as a figure, object, word, or sound that is hidden in other information or material.
Pattern Organization Speed [Endnotes] For the purposes of the Taxonomy, the title of the O*NET descriptor "Speed of Closure" has been changed to "Pattern Organisation Speed". The French translation is titled "Rapidité d'organisation de structures".	The ability to quickly combine and organize information into meaningful patterns.
Perceptual Speed	The ability to compare, quickly and accurately, similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time, one after the other, or with a remembered object.
Spatial Orientation	The ability to know your location in relation to the environment or know where objects are in relation to you.
Spatial Visualization	The ability to think visually about geometric forms, comprehend the two-dimensional representation of three-dimensional objects and recognize the relationships resulting from the movement of objects in space.
Verbal Ability [Endnotes] Verbal ability is understood as a prerequisite to verbal communication, enabling a person to communicate effectively. This descriptor has some similarities with the descriptor "Communication" from the ESDC-Skills for Success model. The definition of “Communication” is: Your ability to receive, understand, consider, and share information and ideas through speaking, listening, and interacting with others. For example, we use this skill to listen to instructions, serve customers and discuss ideas. The Skills and Competencies Taxonomy and Skills for Success definitions are slightly different because they have different purposes and target groups.	The ability to understand the meaning, precise use, associated ideas, and relationships of spoken words; and to use them in the proper context when presenting information or ideas.
Written Comprehension [Endnotes] This descriptor has some similarities with the descriptor “Reading” from the ESDC-Skills for Success model. The definition of “Reading” is: Your ability to find, understand, and use information presented through words, symbols, and images. For example, we use this skill to locate information on forms and drawings, and to read items such as emails, reports, news articles, blog posts and instructions. The Skills and Competencies Taxonomy and Skills for Success definitions are slightly different because they have different purposes and target groups.	The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in written form.
Written Expression [Endnotes] This descriptor has some similarities with the descriptor “Writing” in the ESDC-Skills for Success model. The definition of “Writing” is: Your ability to share information using written words, symbols, and images. For example, we use this skill to fill out forms and applications, and write emails, reports and social media posts. The Skills and Competencies Taxonomy and Skills for Success definitions are slightly different because they have different purposes and target groups.	The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing and adapting the writing style to the audience so that they can understand.

Physical Abilities

Abilities to perform physical activities that require strength, endurance, flexibility, balance or coordination.

Descriptor	Definition
Body Flexibility [Endnotes] For the purposes of the Taxonomy, the title of the O*NET descriptor "Extent Flexibility" has been changed to "Body Flexibility". The French translation is titled "Flexibilité corporelle".	The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Dynamic Flexibility	The ability to quickly and repeatedly bend, stretch, twist, or reach out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Gross Body Coordination	The ability to coordinate the movement of your arms, legs, and torso together when the whole body is in motion.
Gross Body Equilibrium	The ability to keep or regain your body balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
Multi-Limb Coordination	The ability to coordinate two or more limbs, such as two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm, while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
Dynamic Strength	The ability to exert muscle force repeatedly or continuously over time. This involves muscular endurance and resistance to muscle fatigue.
Explosive Strength	The ability to exert short bursts of muscle force to propel oneself (as in jumping or sprinting), to throw an object, or to apply force with a tool.
Static Strength	The ability to exert muscle force to lift, push, pull, carry, or transfer objects.
Trunk Strength	The ability to exert your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without "giving out" or fatiguing.
Stamina	The ability to perform intense physical activities over long periods without becoming winded or out of breath.

Psychomotor Abilities

Abilities needed to manipulate and control objects.

Descriptor	Definition
Arm-Hand Steadiness	The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving or holding them in one position.
Finger Dexterity	The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble small objects.
Manual Dexterity	The ability to move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects or tools.
Control of Settings	The ability to adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
Motor Coordination	The ability to coordinate eyes, hands and fingers accurately to respond with precise movements.
Multi-Signal Response	The ability to choose quickly between one or more movements with the hand, finger, or foot in response to the appearance of two or more different signals such as lights, sounds, or images.
Rate Control	The ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object.
Reaction Time	The ability to respond quickly with one or more limbs to a stimulus such as noise, light or image.
Speed of Limb Movement	The ability to quickly move the arms and legs.
Finger-Hand-Wrist Motion	The ability to make fast, simple, and repeated movements of the fingers, hands, and wrists.

Sensory Abilities

Abilities needed to perform activities that require visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory or speech perception.

Descriptor	Definition
Auditory Attention	The ability to give full attention on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.
Hearing Sensitivity	The ability to detect or distinguish the differences between sounds in terms of pitch and volume.
Speech Clarity	The ability to articulate and pronounce words clearly, so others can understand you when you speak.
Speech Recognition	The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Sound Localization	The ability to identify the direction, origin and distance from which a sound comes.
Depth Perception	The ability to discern which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to estimate the distance between you and an object.
Far Vision	The ability to see details of objects and people at a distance.
Glare Tolerance	The ability to see objects or people, in the presence of glare or bright lighting.
Near Vision	The ability to see details at close range.
Night Vision	The ability to see under low light conditions.
Peripheral Vision	The ability to see objects, people, or their movement in the peripheral field of vision when looking ahead.
Smell	The ability to perceive odours through the nose.
Taste	The ability to recognize or verify a particular flavor of a substance by tasting it.
Touch	The ability to acquire information about the environment through skin contact.
Colour Perception	The ability to match or detect differences or similarities between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.

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Date modified:: 2019-03-01