Білікті жұмысшылар: дағды, білім және маңыздылығы

Any worker who has special skill, training, knowledge

A skilled worker is any worker who has special skill, training, knowledge which they can then apply to their work. A skilled worker may have learned their skills through work experience, on the job training, an apprenticeship program or formal education. These skills often lead to better outcomes economically. The definition of a skilled worker has seen change throughout the 20th century, largely due to the industrial impact of the Great Depression and World War II. Further changes in globalisation have seen this definition shift further in Western countries, with many jobs moving from manufacturing based sectors to more advanced technical and service based roles. Examples of formal educated skilled labor include engineers, scientists, doctors and teachers, while examples of informal educated workers include crane operators, CDL truck drivers, machinists, drafters, plumbers, craftsmen, cooks and bookkeepers.

In addition to the general use of the term, various agencies or governments, both federal and local, may require skilled workers to meet additional specifications. Such definitions can affect matters such as immigration, licensure and eligibility for travel or residency. For example, according to US Citizenship and Immigration Services, skilled worker positions are not seasonal or temporary and require at least two years of experience or training. Skilled work varies in type (service versus labor), education requirements (apprenticeship versus graduate college) and availability (freelance versus on call). Each differences are often reflected in titling, opportunity, responsibility and (most significantly) salary. Both skilled and non skilled workers are vital and indispensable for the smooth running of a free market and/or capitalist society. According to Alan Greenspan, former Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank, "Enhancing elementary and secondary school sensitivity to market forces should help restore the balance between the demand for and the supply of skilled workers in the United States." Generally, however, individual skilled workers are more valued to a given company than individual non skilled workers, as skilled workers tend to be more difficult to replace. As a result, skilled workers tend to demand more in the way of financial compensation because of their efforts. According to Greenspan, corporate managers are willing to bid up pay packages to acquire skilled workers as they identify the lack of skilled labor as one of today's greatest problems.

Skilled workers are an invaluable asset to companies. Benefits of a skilled workforce include. Increased Productivity Companies may benefit from the increased specialization of workers as they have attained the associated skills of a job to a high degree. Economies of Scale A group of skilled workers through increased productivity may help a company obtain cost advantages per unit that will help to increase profitability. Improved Safety Workers who are masterful in their craft tend to not make large or catastrophic mistakes that may cause injury to themselves or other workers. Problem Solving Skilled workers have the advantage of repeating a process many times. These workers have the ability to highlight inconsistencies and overcome problems that can save company's time and money.

In American industry, there has been a change in the concentration of skilled workers from the areas of past economic might e. g. steel, automobile, textile and chemicals to the more recent (21st century) industry developments e. g. computers, telecommunications and information technology which is commonly stated to represent a plus rather than a minus for the American standard of living.

Due to globalization, regional shortages of skilled workers, migration, outsourcing, and other factors, the methods of procuring skilled workers has changed in recent years.