Employability skills are general, nontechnical skills required for any job (see Table 1). They are needed for both entry-level and advanced positions (Ju et al., 2012). Employers consider employees with employability skills an asset because these skills are fundamental across all types of employment (Ju et al., 2012, 2014). 

Although most research examines employability skills in general, there is a small body of research that focuses specifically on employability skills for individuals with disabilities. Ju et al. (2012) examined the skills employers consider important for entry-level employees with and without disabilities. Skills rated highest (in order of importance) for both individuals with and without disabilities were demonstrating personal integrity/honesty, ability to follow instructions, ability to show respect for others, and ability to be on time. In addition, employers were asked to rank the importance of five skill areas (see Table 1). The skill areas most valued by employers, in order of importance, were basic skills, basic work skills, social skills, personal traits, and higher order thinking skills. Employers ranked the importance of these skill areas the same for employees with and without disabilities. In a follow-up study, Ju et al. (2014) examined the skills educators considered most important for entry level workers and compared them with their 2012 findings. They found that educators and employers rated the same four skills as most important; however, educators ranked the importance of skill areas differently (i.e., social skills, personal traits, basic work skills, basic skills, higher-order thinking skills).

Employers are a natural source of information about the skills needed for employment; however, additional information can be gained from rehabilitation providers. These professionals work closely with employers to match individuals with disabilities to jobs, and they are often responsible for determining whether an individual receives rehabilitation services. Pickens and Dymond (2022) interviewed rehabilitation providers to determine the skills that impact their perceptions of an individual’s employability. Providers identified social skills as the most important skill needed for employment. Other skills identified as critical were customer service skills (e.g., interacting well with others), self-determination skills (e.g., self-direction, problem solving), and independent living skills (e.g., good hygiene, able to navigate the community). These findings are similar to previous studies with rehabilitation providers that identified self-determination, social and communication skills, general work skills, and independent living skills as important (Moon et al., 2011; Riesen et al., 2014).

Table 1
Sample Employability Skills Valued by Employers

Note. Table based on Ju et al. (2012).

Given so many critical employability skills, it can be difficult to know which skills to teach and when to begin instruction. In Illinois, the age at which a student must have a transition component in their Individualized Education Program (IEP) is 14.5. Waiting until a student reaches transition age to begin teaching employability skills may be too late, particularly for students who require explicit instruction and repeated practice to learn. By initiating instruction on age-appropriate employability skills in the elementary or middle grades, students will have additional time to develop and refine their skills.  

To determine which skills are most important to teach, begin by using a variety of age-appropriate transition assessments to identify the student’s strengths, preferences, interests, and needs. Then, select skills for instruction that align with the transition assessment findings and support the student’s progress toward their postschool goals. Instruction on the selected skills need not involve creation of a separate course. In fact, instruction on most employability skills can easily be embedded into existing academic instruction. Importantly, skills learned in the classroom may not transfer to actual employment settings automatically. Providing students opportunities to demonstrate their skills within work-based learning experiences will help clarify whether the student has developed adequate employability skills. In summary, there are a variety of skills needed for employment. It is important to start teaching employability skills early to ensure students acquire the general, non-technical skills needed for all jobs.

• Workplace Readiness Training
• Essential Skills to Getting a Job: What Young People with Disabilities Need to Know

Ju, S., Pacha, J., Moore, K., & Zhang, D., (2014). Employability skills for entry-level employees with and without disabilities: A comparison between the perspectives of educators and employers. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 40, 203-212. https://doi.org/10.3233/JVR-140685 

Ju, S., Zhang, D., & Pacha, J. (2012). Employability skills valued by employers as important for entry-level employees with and without disabilities. Career Development and Transition for Exceptional Individuals, 35(1), 29-38. https://doi.org/10.1177/0885728811419167 

Moon, S., Simonsen, M. L., & Neubert, D. A. (2011). Perceptions of supported employment providers: What students with developmental disabilities, families, and educators need to know for transition planning. Education and Training in Autism and Developmental Disabilities, 46(1), 94-105. 

Pickens, J.L., & Dymond, S.K. (2022). Keys to the employment services castle: Needed skills and experiences. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 56(2), 165-175. https://doi.org/10.3233/JVR-221180

Riesen, T., Schultz, J., Morgan, R., & Kupferman, S. (2014). School-to-work barriers as identified by special educators, vocational rehabilitation counselors, and community rehabilitation professionals. Journal of Rehabilitation, 80(1), 33-44.

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act [WIOA] Pub. L. No. 113-128 Sat. 1425 (2014). https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-113publ128/pdf/PLAW-113publ128.pdf