Skills England puts AI into new employability framework for young people and employers

The new framework gives educators, employers and young people a shared language for workplace skills, with responsible AI use built throughout

Skills England has published a new framework bringing together 13 employability skills, with digital and AI capabilities embedded throughout

Skills England has published a new Employability Skills Framework designed to create a more consistent way of describing, developing and assessing the skills young people need as they move into work.

Skills England is the government body responsible for identifying national skills needs and helping shape the education and training system around them.

The framework brings together existing skills standards rather than creating another standalone taxonomy. Its 13 core skills are based on the UK Standard Skills Classification, with practical examples showing how those capabilities can develop and be demonstrated in education, training and the workplace.

Digital and AI-enabled skills are embedded throughout, reflecting the growing role technology plays in recruitment and employment.

AI becomes part of employability

Rather than treating AI as a separate technical skill, the framework incorporates it into wider workplace capabilities.

Skills England places particular emphasis on using AI responsibly, critically evaluating its outputs, understanding its limitations and retaining human judgement when technology is used to support decisions or complete tasks.

For young people, the framework can be used to identify skills developed through education, volunteering, caring responsibilities, hobbies, sport and community activities and translate those experiences into language employers recognize.

It can also support CV and application writing, interview preparation, career exploration and self-assessment, including the use of AI prompts to help young people think about their strengths and preferences.

Skills England says young people can struggle to recognize how experiences outside formal employment demonstrate skills that businesses value. Employers, meanwhile, report difficulties recruiting for potential when candidates have limited work experience.

A shared language for employers and educators

The framework is also aimed at employers looking to make skills more explicit in recruitment and early-career development.

Companies can use it to support skills-based recruitment, write clearer job descriptions, assess candidates on their ability to perform a role and identify areas where entry-level employees may need additional development.

For educators, training providers and organizations supporting young people, it can inform employability coaching and skills development programs while helping align existing frameworks.

Skills England developed the framework using established standards including Foundation Apprenticeship employability skills and behaviors, T Level content, the Skills Builder Universal Framework, FutureDotNow’s Essential Digital Skills Framework and NFER’s Skills Imperative 2035 work.

It also worked with the King’s Trust, Youth Futures Foundation, North West Business Leadership Team and St Martin’s Group to gather feedback from employers and young people.

Next step is wider adoption

Skills England now wants organizations across education, training, recruitment and employment support to incorporate the framework into their existing programs and services.

It will also work with the Department for Work and Pensions and Department for Education to align relevant services, programs and data with the framework where possible.

The longer-term aim is to give young people, educators and employers a more consistent way to describe employability skills, while making it easier for people entering the workforce to demonstrate capabilities gained both inside and outside formal employment.