[1] Skilled workers have long had historical import (see division of labour) as masons, carpenters, blacksmiths, bakers, brewers, coopers, printers and other occupations that are economically productive.
Trade and the effects of globalization also play roles in affecting the relative demand for skilled labor.
The EFA Global Monitoring Report 2012, proposes a useful approach to different types of skills in relation to the world of work.
Transferable skills include analysing problems and reaching appropriate solutions, communicating ideas and information effectively, being creative, showing leadership and conscientiousness, and demonstrating entrepreneurial capabilities.
[2][3] Many jobs require specific technical know-how, whether related to growing vegetables, using a sewing machine, engaging in bricklaying or carpentry, or working on a computer in an office.