Skill proficiency frameworks enable organizations with deeper insights and improved workforce adaptability. These frameworks improve hiring, optimize talent development and inform strategic workforce planning by providing a common language and a clear structure for understanding skills and skill levels.
You might think about skill proficiencies like turn-by-turn directions from a GPS. Instead of taking you to an unfamiliar address, these directions can help individuals navigate their careers and organizations navigate workforce upskilling and transformation.
Traditionally, establishing and maintaining accurate and up-to-date skill proficiency frameworks was challenging. Now with continually updated data, a new framework for skill proficiencies that leverages artificial intelligence (AI) puts employers and workers in the driver’s seat.
Job titles and degrees on a résumé don’t tell the whole story. What matters most are skills — what people can do and how well.
A Skill Proficiency framework measures this, capturing the level of knowledge, expertise and ability an individual possesses in a particular skill. Like a ladder, skill proficiencies are typically measured on a scale, often from a 1 to “x” scale, with the higher number indicating higher skill.
While skills provide a general snapshot of what people can do, organizations often need a more structured way to define and measure skills across their workforce, as well as to assess potential new employees and plan for changes in the workforce market.
This is where skill proficiency frameworks come in. A skill proficiency framework provides a standardized language, definition and criteria for assessing and measuring employee skills.
Skill frameworks are essential for strategic workforce planning, enabling organizations to thoroughly identify skill gaps, track employee growth, guide workforce transformation initiatives and increase talent mobility.
While skill proficiency frameworks offer tremendous potential, not all frameworks are created equal. Traditional approaches can fall short. Here's why:
Advances in AI and machine learning are giving us new and better tools.
When searching for richer skill insights, find a modern solution that incorporates skill proficiencies. One that is designed to use extensive, continuously updated datasets that offer a dynamic, real-time overview of the evolving skills landscape.
For example, Pearson has pioneered the development of a patented Skill Proficiency Framework, the first of its kind, which enhances the Pearson Skills Ontology.
Drawing on data from millions of job postings, this ontology maps the intricate connections between skills, tasks, occupations and technologies. Updated in real-time, and now with the patented addition of a Skill Proficiency Framework, the Pearson ontology allows for a more granular understanding of skills and the levels within.
Focusing on the proficiency framework, it classifies skills into five levels: Novice, Advanced Beginner, Competent, Proficient and Expert. By leveraging AI, Pearson generates detailed skill proficiency descriptions at scale and accurately maps them to a diverse range of occupations using job market data, ensuring they reflect the latest market trends.
Pearson are the first to apply these cutting-edge techniques in this context, transforming how skill proficiency is described and linked to occupations. This effort has been formally recognized through publication in a leading data science conference and journal, CIKM – a Tier-A conference in Data Science, Data Management and Artificial intelligence.
Overall, Pearson’s AI-powered Skill Proficiency Framework captures the nuance between different skill levels, offering a standardized approach to defining, measuring, and benchmarking performance in a skill. This framework opens the door to unprecedented insights and the potential to unlock unique opportunities.
For example, consider Microsoft Excel. With mastery of several tasks or actions required for each level, advanced proficiency skill frameworks allow organizations to understand Excel skills with nuance and precision.
Here’s an example of how Pearson details the various skill levels
Novice | Adv. Beginner | Competent | Proficient | Expert |
Understands the basic layout of Excel including cells, rows, columns, and worksheets. |
Uses more complex functions such as VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP, and IF statements to manipulate and analyze data. |
Writes and edits complex formulas to perform advanced data analysis. |
Designs and implements complex Excel-based solutions to meet specific data analysis needs. |
Designs and implements advanced Excel-based solutions, integrating with other tools and platforms as needed. |
Knows how to enter and format data. |
Applies conditional formatting to cells to highlight specific data points. |
Uses advanced functions such as INDEX, MATCH, and nested functions to perform complex data manipulation. |
Writes VBA code to automate tasks and customize Excel functionality, enhancing productivity. |
Writes complex VBA code to automate tasks and extend Excel functionality, creating custom solutions for specific needs. |
Uses basic functions such as SUM, AVERAGE, and COUNT to perform simple calculations. |
Creates and manages pivot tables to summarize and analyze large data sets. |
Creates and customizes complex charts and graphs to present data in a meaningful way. |
Uses advanced data analysis tools such as Power Pivot and Power Query to handle and analyze large data sets. |
Uses advanced data modeling and analysis tools such as Power BI to create interactive dashboards and reports. |
Creates simple charts and graphs to visualize data. |
Uses data validation tools to maintain data integrity. |
Uses macros to automate repetitive tasks, improving efficiency. |
Understands and uses array formulas to perform calculations on multiple data sets simultaneously. |
Understands Excel's internals and can troubleshoot performance issues, ensuring optimal performance. |
Saves and prints Excel worksheets. |
Understands the concept of absolute and relative cell references. |
Understands and uses Excel's data analysis tools such as Goal Seek and Solver to solve problems and optimize outcomes. |
Optimizes Excel performance and efficiency by managing memory usage and improving calculation speed. |
Keeps up-to-date with new Excel features and can adapt them to improve efficiency and functionality, staying at the forefront of Excel expertise. |
Skill proficiency frameworks offer value to many people.
Modern skill proficiency frameworks, especially those powered by AI and robust datasets, offer a range of advantages for HR leaders, including:
Navigate your workforce to the next level. Use a trusted skill proficiency framework to develop a workforce that drives growth and performance.