Refers to the essential competencies that employees need to perform effectively in their jobs. Core skills individuals need to navigate and succeed in the workplace commonly include communication, teamwork, integrity, problem-solving, work ethic, and initiative.

According to ACT (2013), A work ready individual possesses the foundational skills needed to be minimally qualified for a specific occupation as determined through a job analysis or occupational profile. The skills needed for work readiness are (1) foundational and occupation-specific, (2) vary in importance and level for different occupations, and (3) depend on the critical tasks identified through a job analysis or occupational profile.  Work readiness skills include:

• Foundational cognitive skills such as reading for information, applied mathematics, locating information, problem solving, and critical thinking
• Noncognitive skills or “soft skills” defined as personal characteristics and behavioral skills that enhance an individual’s interactions, job performance, and career prospects such as adaptability, integrity, cooperation, and workplace discipline.

In recent years, top work readiness skills commonly include:

• adaptability and flexibility: embracing continuous learning
• digital literacy: staying current with technology
• critical thinking and problem solving: engaging in real-world scenarios
• time management and organization: developing efficient work habits
• cultural competence and inclusivity: fostering a diverse and inclusive mindset

Employability is a related though broader term than workforce readiness. It refers to the ability of individuals to find, create, and sustain meaningful work across their career and in different contexts while continuing to enhance their skills, attitudes, and attributes. Workforce readiness is a subset of employability—it refers to individuals’ perceived level of skills and attitudes that prepare them for success at work.

Many additional terms are also used to refer to work readiness, such as graduate skills, graduate attributes, key competencies,  job-readiness, work preparedness, transferable skills, generic attributes, graduate pre-professional identity, and graduate capital.