This document discusses essential skills and their importance in employment. It defines essential skills as the non-technical skills needed for any job, as identified by employers, such as reading, writing, numeracy, oral communication, working with others, continuous learning, and computer use. The document notes that texting has become an essential skill for some jobs. It highlights the economic and social benefits of essential skills proficiency. The document also examines how essential skills needs have changed and will continue changing in the future, and discusses approaches to teaching essential skills in the classroom in both implicit and explicit ways.