Putting skill in its place

Abstract

This article argues that a focus on human capability and its development can be used to rethink the high skills policy visions favoured over recent decades. The article briefly summarises the increasing concerns with government policy formulas which have adopted a narrow focus such that skill and its accreditation is regarded as the outcome rather than as an input to the utilisation of skill or the achievement of a civil society. It is argued that human capability conceptions encourage a more holistic appreciation and systemic analysis of the impact of social arrangements and economic structures on people’s opportunity to flourish at work, and in life. The article reports research with workers and managers which operationalises these conceptions in the form of a list of capabilities expected through work. The implications for the place of skill in rethinking policy are discussed.

Keywords:

• human capability
• policy
• skills
• workplace