New Digital Skills Recognized in the Building Blocks of a Competency Model

To address rapid changes in workplace technology, the Tier 2 – Academic Competencies, Basic Computer Skills competency block, was revised and expanded in August of 2024.

The nationwide industry competency model frameworks available on the Competency Model Clearinghouse (CMC) are based on the core Building Blocks Model and then tailored to meet specific industry needs.

About the Basic Computer Skills Competency Block

The competency models on the CMC follow a tiered "building block" framework.

• Each building block on a tier represents one competency — a cluster of related skills, knowledge, and abilities (KSAs) that affect a major part of the work and are essential for successful performance in the industry or field represented by the model.
• Users can create customized competency models by revising, removing, or adding new building blocks that reflect the skills, knowledge, and abilities needed in their industry or field.

With rapid changes in technology in the workplace, the revised Tier 2 – Academic Competencies, Basic Computer Skills competency block, reflects the importance of digital skills in the workplace and the expanded scope of digital skills that workers need.

The updated skills were based on the Employment and Training Administration's (ETA’s) gap analysis, comparing the Building Blocks Model and a comparison group of digital skills frameworks.  It was also based on responses to the US DOL Digital Literacy and Resilience Request for Information (RFI).

The new digital skills were further aligned with efforts by the US Department of Education's Office of Educational Technology, and validated by staff from the National Skills Coalition and from the US Department of Labor's ETA and Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Access the updated Basic Computer Skills – Digital Literacy Competencies here.

See the Video on How to Use Competency Models

An instructional video is available to walk viewers through a step-by-step process for how to navigate the competency model website, related career planning resources and tools, and highlights related career planning sites.  

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• Posted by: Damon Jones
• Posted in: LMI Central