Skilled Labor

What Is Skilled Labor?

Skilled labor is a segment of the workforce that has specialized know-how, training, and experience to carry out more complex physical, or mental tasks than routine job functions. Skilled labor is generally characterized by higher education, as well as expertise levels attained through training and experience, and likewise generally corresponds with higher wages.

This can be contrasted with unskilled labor.

Understanding Skilled Labor

Skilled labor in an increasingly competitive world is essential. Developing countries in Asia are rapidly building up their skilled labor pools. Meanwhile, the U.S. and Western European countries, which have dominated economic advancements since the mid-1800s, are paying more attention to the preservation and growth of their skilled labor workforce.

Corporate America (an informal term for large companies) has extensive formal training programs for both new and existing workers, while small and medium-sized firms may have formal programs. But if not, on-the-job training to build up skills is the norm.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) also provides government-sanctioned programs through the Employment & Training Administration, American Job Center network and CareerOne Stop, which serves as a directory of local training programs. Some countries in Europe have been on the vanguard of developing skilled labor.

Germany, in particular, is considered a role model with its apprenticeship programs throughout its corporate sector — in auto plants, machine manufacturing facilities, technology hardware, software development offices, and banking offices. The U.S. is just beginning to replicate this training model for skilled labor.

The Future of Skilled Labor

With rapid changes in the economy with respect to the growth of knowledge-based jobs, skilled labor of the future may be different from the skilled labor of the past and present. The "rise of the machine" is engendering great debate and a certain level of anxiety among skilled workers, who wonder if they will eventually be replaced on the job by a robot or a computer algorithm.

Those who have yet to join the working world wonder what kinds of skills will lead to gainful employment in a new era. High-end manufacturing and many professional services that require specialized knowledge such as law, medicine, and finance are at this moment under assault from the rise of the machine. Skills in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) are currently being promoted as the answer to staying competitive in the modern global workforce.

Skilled Labor vs. Unskilled Labor

Unskilled labor is the conceptual opposite of skilled labor. Unskilled labor is a segment of the workforce associated with a limited skill set or minimal economic value for the work performed. Unskilled labor is generally characterized by a lower educational attainment, such as a high school diploma, GED or lack thereof, and typically results in smaller wages.

Work that requires no specific education level or specialized experience is often available to the unskilled labor force.

A term similar in nature to unskilled labor is low-skilled labor. While low-skilled labor also denotes a lack of education or training necessary in order to become employed, it may be seen as slightly different from unskilled labor depending on the context. It may require basic skills training for the work to be completed successfully. Low-skilled positions may include entry-level positions within food service and retail environments.

Semiskilled, or mid-skilled, labor involves those that persons or positions where a level of basic knowledge, experience, or training is required to complete the tasks successfully. Generally, the skills required are not overly specialized but do have more complexity than unskilled positions. Examples of semiskilled positions may include delivery drivers, customer service representatives and entry-level administrative assistants.