Understanding Skilled, Semi-Skilled, and Unskilled Workers: How Are These Categories Defined?

Dear Friends,

Could someone please explain the terms skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled workers/employees? How are these categories defined, and who falls under each category?

I am looking forward to your valuable replies.

Regards,
Vijay
Silvassa

Classification of skills Category:

(A) Highly Skilled:
A highly skilled employee is one who does work that involves skill or competence of an extraordinary degree and possesses supervisory ability.

(B) Skilled:
A skilled employee is one who is capable of working independently and efficiently, turning out accurate work. They must be capable of reading and working on simple drawing circuits and processes if necessary.

(C) Semi-skilled:
A semi-skilled employee is one who has sufficient knowledge of a particular trade or above to do respective work and simple jobs with the help of simple tools and machines.

(D) Unskilled:
An unskilled employee is one who possesses no special training and whose work involves the performance of simple duties that require the exercise of little or no independent judgment or previous experience, although familiarity with the occupational environment is necessary.

Unskilled:
Peon, Chowkidar, Durban, Watchman, Cleaner, Sweeper, Loader, Helper, Mali fall under the unskilled category.

Semi-skilled:
Gatekeeper (Cinema), Assistant Operator, Assistant Electrician, Bookbinder, Waiter or Bearer, Mali with technical experience fall under the semi-skilled category.

Skilled:
Electrician, Mechanic, Tailors, Cooks fall under the skilled category.

Clerical and Supervisory Staff:
Book Clerk, Typist, Receptionist, Telephone Operator, Traveling Salesman fall under this category.

You have got the answer. Still, just collect the minimum wage notification from the local labor office, where you will get the detailed designation-wise chart and definition to differentiate between these.

Hitesh
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Dear Alka, please review the minimum rates of wages notification issued by the UT Chandigarh Administration to determine the applicable schedule of employment for finalizing the categories of these designations.

Regards,
R.N. Khola

Alka Kashyap asked, "In which category will welder, turner, and grinder fall?"

Dear Vijay, Don't get disappointed. My advice is that first, you try to find yourself. Even if you can't, then accept help from others and share with all of us.

Unskilled Labor

Unskilled Labor: A segment of the workforce associated with a low skill level or limited economic value for the work performed (human capital). Unskilled labor is generally characterized by low education levels and small wages. Work that requires no specific education or experience is often available to workers who fall into the unskilled labor force.

Unskilled labor provides a significant part of the overall labor market, performing daily production tasks that do not depend on technical abilities or skills. Menial or repetitive tasks are typical unskilled labor positions. Jobs that can be fully learned in less than 30 days often fall into the unskilled labor category.

Skilled Labor

Skilled Labor: A segment of the workforce with a high skill level that creates significant economic value through the work performed (human capital). Skilled labor is generally characterized by high education or expertise levels and high wages. Skilled labor involves complicated tasks that require specific skill sets, education, training, and experience, and may involve abstract thinking.

Skilled labor is the specialized part of the labor force with advanced education. Examples of skilled labor include physicians, plumbers, attorneys, engineers, scientists, builders, architects, and professors.

Highly Skilled Labor

Highly Skilled Labor: This working class stands in contrast to white-collar workers, who historically have had the higher-paying, salaried positions to go with their clean and pressed white shirts.

I hope you have a clear idea about everything you need. Enjoy the day.

Regards,
Seetarama Moger

Dear Vijay, Thanks to Meera and Seetarama for providing fairly understandable definitions. However, to eliminate any room for doubt or ambiguity, I am sharing the definitions of unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled, and highly skilled categories of work as published in the Gazette of India; Extraordinary, Ministry of Labour and Employment Notification No. S.O. 1352(E), dated 24th August 2006.

a) "Unskilled work" means work that involves simple operations requiring little or no skill or expertise on the job.

b) "Semi-skilled work" means work that involves some degree of skill or competence acquired through experience on the job, which can be performed under the supervision or guidance of a skilled employee and includes supervisory work.

c) "Skilled work" means work that involves skill or competence acquired through experience on the job or through training as an apprentice in a technical or vocational institute and requires initiative and judgment in performance.

d) "Highly-skilled work" means work that demands a high degree of perfection and full competence in performing specific tasks acquired through intensive technical or professional training or practical work experience over many years. It also requires the worker to take full responsibility for their judgment or decisions in executing these tasks.

Regarding who falls under these categories, I suggest procuring a copy of the said notification from the Labour Department, which also contains an exhaustive list of skill-level wise designations of workers. It is not feasible for me to reproduce it here due to its size.

I hope this provides you with ample clarity on the subject. Good day!

Regards, Vijayanta Kumar Sinha

Dear All,

If an employee is hired to sort and separate stamps based on the countries, which category would the employee fall under? Skilled, Semi-Skilled, or Unskilled?

Kindly reply at the earliest.

Thanks and Regards.