Tools, Assessments and Training Support
A series of tools has been developed to help individuals and organizations address workplace essential skills challenges.
Available in a variety of formats, the tools target different learning styles and skills levels, and can be adapted to meet the needs of:
For a complete listing of all tools, see the essential skills tools catalogue.
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Tool user guide
For additional support in selecting and using the tools below, please consult Making the Tools Work for You, a guide to essential skills tools and resources available through ESDC.
Job seekers and workers
Job seekers and workers
Inform: Learn about the importance of the nine essentials skills and how they are used at work
- What are essential skills?
A fact sheet that explains the nine essential skills that people need for work, learning and life. It includes examples of how essential skills are used in the community and the workplace. - Essential skills success stories
A collection of real stories about Canadians who have experienced success in work and life after improving their essential skills. Told from the learner’s point of view, these stories can help inspire others to deal with their own essential skills challenges. - Browse essential skills profiles to learn about the essential skills required for the job you want.
Assess: Discover your strengths and find areas where you can improve
- Online indicators and checklists
Informal assessment that asks learners to solve questions to get an indication of their essential skills ability. - Indicators (for print)
A guide and informal assessment that asks learners to solve questions to get an indication of their essential skills ability. Indicators are available for the following essential skills:
- Self-assessments
These informal assessments guide learners through a series of statements to help them identify their essential skills strengths and areas for improvement. Self-assessments are available for each of the nine essential skills:
Support: Improve your essential skills
Tools to track and plan skill development
- Portfolio
A collection of binder inserts to keep a record of knowledge gained and skills developed through essential skills training and learning activities. Use it to build a collection of learning materials (e.g. tips sheets, practice exercises) and samples from on-the-job experiences (e.g. email, time sheet, a safety information sheet). - Passport
A tracking resource that lets learners record their skill strengths and identify areas that may need improvement. It is intended to be updated and reviewed regularly. - Tip sheets and practice and learning exercises
A booklet that provides learners with practical tips and activities to improve their essential skills. This tool is available for the following essential skills:
- Vocabulary building workbook
A workbook with various exercises to help learners improve their vocabulary and learn words commonly used in the Canadian workplace. - Problem solved! A guide for employees and learners
A guide that includes various techniques, activities and worksheets to help learners practice and improve their thinking skills.
Apprentices and tradespersons
Apprentices and tradespersons
Inform: Learn about the nine essential skills, why they are important and how they are used in the trades
- What are essential skills for the trades?
A fact sheet that outlines how the nine essential skills are used in the trades. It includes definitions, common tasks and examples of how each skill is used in various trades. - Essential skills for success in the trades
This resource provides sample tasks that demonstrate how each of the nine essential skills is used in specific trades. It is currently available for the following 15 trades:
- Essential skills for success as an automotive service technician
- Essential skills for success as a carpenter
- Essential skills for success as a construction electrician
- Essential skills for success as a cook
- Essential skills for success as a hairstylist
- Essential skills for success as an industrial mechanic (millwright)
- Essential skills for success as a machinist
- Essential skills for success as a plumber
- Essential skills for success as a sheet metal worker
- Essential skills for success as a welder
- Essential skills for success as an ironworker
- Essential skills for success as an industrial electrician
- Essential skills for success as a truck and transport mechanic
- Essential skills for success as a steamfitter-pipefitter
- Essential skills for success as a refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic
- On the job stories
A resource that describes a typical workday for a tradesperson and provides practical activities that use essential skills. This tool is currently available for the following 10 trades:
- Using essential skills: on the job with a plumber
- Using essential skills: on the job with an automotive service technician
- Using essential skills: on the job with a carpenter
- Using essential skills: on the job with a cook
- Using essential skills: on the job with an industrial mechanic (millwright)
- Using essential skills: on the job with a hairstylist
- Using essential skills: on the job with a machinist
- Using essential skills: on the job with a sheet metal worker
- Using essential skills: on the job with a construction electrician
- Using essential skills: on the job with a welder
Assess: Discover your strengths and find areas where you can improve
- Essential skills self-assessment for the trades
A checklist to help identify essential skills strengths and areas for improvement. It includes statements that describe common trades-related tasks for the nine essential skills.
Support: Improve your essential skills
- Before training: Resources to improve your essential skills
This booklet includes tips and activities that help apprentices identify ways to improve their essential skills and be better prepared for training. - Essential skills for your apprenticeship training
A booklet that includes tips and tricks to help apprentices prepare for in-class training, take effective notes and understand and remember lessons. - Trades math workbook
A workbook with practical exercises to help learners practice their numeracy skills and increase their success in an apprenticeship program. - Essential skills workbook for the trades
A workbook with practical exercises to help learners practice their reading, writing, numeracy and document use skills. A full answer guide is included to help learners understand the steps to reach the right answer. - Using essential skills: Preparing for your interprovincial Red Seal exam
This guide provides learners with tips and tricks to study and prepare for the Interprovincial Red Seal Exam.
Find more resources in the job seekers and workers support section.
Trainers and career counsellors
Trainers and career counsellors
Inform: Help job seekers and workers understand the importance of essential skills
- What are essential skills?
A fact sheet that explains the nine essential skills that people need for work, learning and life. It includes examples of how essential skills are used in the community and the workplace. - Essential skills poster
A poster to communicate how essential skills contribute to job success. It lists the nine essential skills and provides the web address for accessing additional information, including the tools. - Essential skills success stories
A collection of real stories about Canadians who have experienced success in work and life after improving their essential skills. Told from the learner’s point of view, these stories can help inspire others to deal with their own essential skills challenges. - How essential skills are used in the trades
Assess: Determine the essential skills needs of job seekers and workers
The job seekers and workers' assess section has more online indicators and checklists, as well as self-assessments. An essential skills self-assessment is also available in the apprentices and tradespersons section.
Support: Develop training to improve job seekers and workers essential skills
- Developing partnerships to support literacy and essential skills
An online resource containing tips and activities to help employers develop effective partnerships to support essential skills in the workplace. - Problem solved! A guide for employers and practitioners
A guide that includes various techniques, activities and worksheets to help learners practice and improve their thinking skills. This version for employers and practitioners provides instructions for how to integrate this tool into training and development programs.
Find more resources:
Employers
Employers
Inform: Discover how essential skills benefit your employees and your business
- Essential skills in the workplace: What's in it for you?
A fact sheet for employers that describes the many benefits of investing in essential skills. - Building essential skills in the workplace
A set of case studies that offers examples of how to develop essential skills in the workplace. The case studies provide an overview of the benefits, outcomes and impacts of essential skills training. - Taking action: A guide
A guide that introduces a 7-step process for developing and integrating essential skills training in the workplace.
Assess: Uncover the essential skills challenges that may be affecting your organization’s performance
Determine the essential skills needs of your workforce
- Organizational needs assessment
A guide and checklist that helps employers determine whether essential skills gaps are affecting their organization’s performance. - Workplace survey
A questionnaire to help employers identify potential essential skills issues and/or areas of strength in the workplace.
Evaluate the essential skills of prospective employees
- Hiring checklist
An interview guide and template to help employers collect information about the essential skills of job candidates. It can help employers find new workers who can complement the skills of their existing teams.
Manage and support the skill development of employees
- Portfolio
A collection of binder inserts to keep a record of knowledge gained and skills developed through essential skills training and learning activities. Use it to build a collection of learning materials (e.g. tips sheets, practice exercises) and samples from on-the-job experiences (e.g. email, time sheet, a safety information sheet). - Passport
A tracking resource that lets learners record their skill strengths and identify areas that may need improvement. It is intended to be updated and reviewed regularly.
The Portfolio and Passport can be used with resources from the job seekers and workers' assess and support sections.
Support: Develop employees’ essential skills in your workplace
- Developing partnerships to support literacy and essential skills
An online resource containing tips and activities to help employers develop effective partnerships to support essential skills in the workplace. - Problem solved! A guide for employers and practitioners
A guide that includes various techniques, activities and worksheets to help learners practice and improve their thinking skills. This version for employers and practitioners provides instructions for how to integrate this tool into training and development programs. - Training activities
A reference sheet that outlines a series of suggested activities to help employers incorporate essential skills upgrading into workplace training. - Job enhancement and essential skills
A guide to help managers and supervisors support workers in improving their essential skills by giving them new responsibilities and opportunities for development. - Mentoring and essential skills
A guide with tips and activities to support essential skills development in the workplace through mentoring relationships.
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