The Construction Owners Association of Alberta (COA) Essential Skills Committee prepared a summary of essential skills that are important for employers in the construction sector: Tools for Essential Skills Training in Alberta.

Employers in construction are ISO 9000 certified, that means accurate communication and documentation at work are an important part of the company activity and reputation. Training programs for immigrants who want to work in construction may require a minimum level 8 Canadian Language Benchmarks.

Oral Communication Skills - Listening and understanding verbal instructions on the construction site are the most important skills. A good level of oral communication in English as a Second Language is very important for working in construction.

Reading Skills - Construction workers need to understand and apply what they read (complex equipment instructions, building blueprints, product application instructions and health and safety instructions/training).

Writing Skills - Construction workers are spending more time writing, for example their work includes also writing customer and safety reports, descriptions of installations, maintenance instruction. It is very important to be able to write and draw accurate and readable information in different ways:

. writing and drawing sketches on paper
. producing clear tagging / scaffolding signs
. using computers: typing in information and recording time and other values

Mathematical Skills � Basic mathematical skills are the minimum necessary skills for all construction workers. Some trade occupations require higher mathematical skills in the workplace � see more information for each trade occupation.

When reading instructions, contracts and drawings it is very important to understand what numbers and measurement units mean. Canada uses the metric system, but in the construction industry standard dimensions for many items and equipment parts are still given in the imperial system - inches and feet. When buying, cutting or installing different materials or equipment parts it is important to know what the numbers and metric/imperial dimensions mean. This becomes critical for delivering good quality work, ensuring personal safety and the safety of everybody around you.

Document Use Skills � Every construction worker uses some documents in the workplace, such as: reports, computer printouts, charts, sketches/drawings, reference guides, manuals and blueprints. The ability to know how and when to use documents is important because all the information about a project is documented on paper.