Scottish Employer Skills Survey 2020



Staff job roles online prompt cards

Please select the broad sector that best fits your establishment from the list below. This will make the examples shown more relevant to you.


Transport, Retail or Wholesale

Example job roles
Category description
Managers, Directors & Senior Officials
  • Direction and co-ordination of organisations and businesses
  • Management of internal departments and sections
Covers occupations where main tasks consist of direction and co-ordination of organisations and businesses (Including internal departments / sections). Requires a significant amount of knowledge on the processes of the business
Admin & secretarial
  • Secretaries, receptionists, PAs, telephonists
  • Book-keepers, credit controllers/wage clerks
  • Office assistants, office managers
  • Database assistants
  • Stock control clerks & assistants
  • Transport & distribution clerks & assistants
These occupations undertake general admin, clerical, secretarial work and perform a variety of specialist client orientated clerical duties. Most occupations will require a good standard of general education.
Elementary occupations
  • Cleaners, security guards
  • Labourers
  • Kitchen/catering assistants
  • Packers, goods handling
  • Storage staff, shelf fillers
  • Postal workers, messengers & couriers
This covers occupations that involve mostly routine tasks usually involving use of simple hand held tools and in some cases physical effort. Most do not require formal educational qualifications.
Process, plant & machine operatives
  • Vehicle operators / drivers, including train / HGV / van / fork lift / bus / taxi drivers
  • Machine operatives
  • Routine inspectors and testers
  • Food, drink & tobacco process operatives
  • Tyre, exhaust & windscreen fitters
This covers people who operate vehicles and other mobile and stationary machinery, monitor industrial and plant equipment, or to assemble products. Most will not have a particular standard of education but will usually have formal experience related training.
Sales & Customer Service Occupations
  • Sales assistants, sales supervisors
  • Customer care occupations
  • Call centre agents
  • Merchandisers & window dressers
  • Pharmacy & other dispensing assistants
  • (NOT THE FOLLOWING: Sales representatives)
Occupations whose tasks require knowledge and experience necessary to sell goods and services, accept payment and replenish stocks.
Caring, Leisure & Other Service Occupations
  • Air / rail travel assistants
  • Beauticians, hairdressers & barbers
  • Ambulance staff (excluding paramedics)
  • Caretakers
  • Care assistants, nursery nurses / childminders
These occupations involve provision of service to customers whether in a public protective or personal care capacity. Main tasks involved usually include the care of sick, elderly and children and the provision of travel, care and hygiene services.
Skilled Trades Occupations
  • Electricians, plumbers
  • Butchers, bakers, fishmongers
  • Vehicle technicians
  • Mechanics & electricians
  • IT engineers
  • Florists
  • Chefs
  • (NOT THE FOLLOWING: Science and engineering technicians)
Covers occupations where main tasks involve the performance of complex physical duties that normally involve initiative and other practical skills.
Associate Professional and Technical Occupations
  • Accounting technicians
  • Health and safety officers
  • Human resources officers
  • Sales representatives, sales accounts managers, business sales executives
  • Business development managers
  • Buyers, buying and purchasing officers
  • Graphic designers, photographers, writers
  • Estate agents, auctioneers
  • IT / science / engineering / lab technicians
Their main tasks require experience and knowledge to assist in supporting professionals or managers. Most will have relevant high level vocational qualifications involving a substantial period of full time training or further study.
Professional Occupations
  • Programmers, software development and IT professionals
  • Web design & development professionals
  • Accountants
  • Solicitors, lawyers
  • Economists
  • Business & financial project managers
  • Journalists, newspaper editors
  • Engineering professionals
These occupations will usually require a degree or equivalent formal qualification. Main tasks will involve practical application of theoretical knowledge and increasing stock of knowledge through communicating and teaching.

Business and Other Services, Finance or Insurance

Example job roles
Category description
Managers, Directors & Senior Officials
  • Direction and co-ordination of organisations and businesses
  • Management of internal departments and sections
Covers occupations where main tasks consist of direction and co-ordination of organisations and businesses (Including internal departments / sections). Requires a significant amount of knowledge on the processes of the business
Admin & secretarial
  • Secretaries, receptionists, PAs, telephonists
  • Book-keepers, credit controllers/wage clerks
  • Office assistants, office managers
  • Pension and insurance clerks
  • Database assistants
  • Legal secretaries
  • Library clerks & assistants
These occupations undertake general admin, clerical, secretarial work and perform a variety of specialist client orientated clerical duties. Most occupations will require a good standard of general education.
Elementary occupations
  • Cleaners, security guards
  • Labourers
  • Kitchen/catering assistants
  • Postal workers, messengers, couriers
  • Launderers, dry cleaners & pressers
This covers occupations that involve mostly routine tasks usually involving use of simple hand held tools and in some cases physical effort. Most do not require formal educational qualifications.
Process, plant & machine operatives
  • Vehicle operators / drivers
  • Machine operatives
  • Routine inspectors & testers
  • Driving instructors
This covers people who operate vehicles and other mobile and stationary machinery, monitor industrial and plant equipment, or to assemble products. Most will not have a particular standard of education but will usually have formal experience related training.
Sales & Customer Service Occupations
  • Sales assistants, sales managers
  • Customer care occupations, customer service managers
  • Call centre agents, telephone salespersons
  • Market research interviewers
  • (NOT THE FOLLOWING: Sales representatives, buying and purchasing officers, estate agents or auctioneers)
Occupations whose tasks require knowledge and experience necessary to sell goods and services, accept payment and replenish stocks.
Caring, Leisure & Other Service Occupations
  • Caretakers
  • Care assistants, nursery nurses / childminders
  • Care workers and home carers
  • Hairdressers & barbers, beauticians
These occupations involve provision of service to customers whether in a public protective or personal care capacity. Main tasks involved usually include the care of sick, elderly and children and the provision of travel, care and hygiene services.
Skilled Trades Occupations
  • Electricians, electronic trades
  • Chefs, cooks
  • Catering and bar managers
  • Printers
  • TV engineers, IT engineers
  • Gardeners / groundsmen
  • (NOT THE FOLLOWING: Science and engineering technicians)
Covers occupations where main tasks involve the performance of complex physical duties that normally involve initiative and other practical skills.
Associate Professional and Technical Occupations
  • Human resources & industrial relations officers
  • Accounting technicians
  • Health and safety officers
  • Insurance underwriters
  • Investment analysts / advisors
  • Sales representatives
  • Sales account & business development managers, business sales executives
  • Buyers, buying and purchasing officers
  • Writers / journalists
  • Graphic designers / artists / musicians
  • Estate agents, auctioneers
  • Conference / exhibition managers, organisers
  • IT / science / engineering / lab technicians
Their main tasks require experience and knowledge to assist in supporting professionals or managers. Most will have relevant high level vocational qualifications involving a substantial period of full time training or further study.
Professional Occupations
  • Programmers, software development and IT professionals
  • Web design & development professionals
  • Accountants
  • Solicitors, lawyers, barristers & judges
  • Economists
  • Management consultants & business analysts
  • Architects
  • Chartered / Quantity surveyors
  • Advertising accounts managers / creative directors
  • Engineering professionals
These occupations will usually require a degree or equivalent formal qualification. Main tasks will involve practical application of theoretical knowledge and increasing stock of knowledge through communicating and teaching.

Manufacturing, Construction or Agriculture

Example job roles
Category description
Managers, Directors & Senior Officials
  • Direction and co-ordination of organisations and businesses
  • Management of internal departments and sections
Covers occupations where main tasks consist of direction and co-ordination of organisations and businesses (Including internal departments / sections). Requires a significant amount of knowledge on the processes of the business
Admin & secretarial
  • Secretaries, receptionists, PAs, telephonists
  • Book-keepers, credit controllers/wage clerks
  • Office managers
  • Database assistants, office assistants
  • Stock control clerks and assistants
These occupations undertake general admin, clerical, secretarial work and perform a variety of specialist client orientated clerical duties. Most occupations will require a good standard of general education.
Elementary occupations
  • Cleaners, security guards
  • Labourers
  • Kitchen/catering assistants
  • Packers, goods handling
  • Storage staff
  • Farm / forestry / fishing workers
This covers occupations that involve mostly routine tasks usually involving use of simple hand held tools and in some cases physical effort. Most do not require formal educational qualifications.
Process, plant & machine operatives
  • Vehicle operators / drivers
  • Machine operatives
  • HGV / van / fork lift drivers
  • Sorters, assemblers
  • Scaffolders / stagers / riggers
  • Routine inspectors / testers
  • Metal / plastics / rubber / wood / textile process operatives
  • Quarry workers
This covers people who operate vehicles and other mobile and stationary machinery, monitor industrial and plant equipment, or to assemble products. Most will not have a particular standard of education but will usually have formal experience related training.
Sales & Customer Service Occupations
  • Sales assistants, sales supervisors
  • Customer care occupations (including customer service managers and supervisors)
  • Call centre / contact centre occupations
  • (NOT THE FOLLOWING: Sales representatives)
Occupations whose tasks require knowledge and experience necessary to sell goods and services, accept payment and replenish stocks.
Caring, Leisure & Other Service Occupations
  • Caretakers
  • Care assistants, nursery nurses / childminders
  • Animal care services
  • Veterinary nurses
These occupations involve provision of service to customers whether in a public protective or personal care capacity. Main tasks involved usually include the care of sick, elderly and children and the provision of travel, care and hygiene services.
Skilled Trades Occupations
  • Electricians, electrical trades
  • Plumbers, heating & ventilating engineers
  • Printers
  • Farmers
  • Carpenters, furniture makers
  • Mechanics
  • Machine setters / tool makers
  • Painters & decorators
  • Plasterers, roofers, glaziers
  • Bricklayers and masons
  • Metal working production and maintenance fitters
  • Welding trades
  • Gardeners / landscape gardeners
  • (NOT THE FOLLOWING: Science and engineering technicians)
Covers occupations where main tasks involve the performance of complex physical duties that normally involve initiative and other practical skills.
Associate Professional and Technical Occupations
  • Science and engineering technicians
  • IT technicians, lab technicians
  • Accounting technicians
  • Human resources officers
  • Health and safety officers
  • Sales representatives, sales accounts managers, business sales executives
  • Business development managers
  • Draughtspersons
  • Building & civil engineering technicians
  • Estimators, valuers & assessors
  • Product designers
Their main tasks require experience and knowledge to assist in supporting professionals or managers. Most will have relevant high level vocational qualifications involving a substantial period of full time training or further study.
Professional Occupations
  • Software and IT professionals
  • Accountants
  • Solicitors, lawyers
  • Economists
  • Professional engineers
  • Chemists
  • Scientific researchers
  • Architects
  • Quality control & planning engineers
  • Construction project managers
  • Quantity / Chartered surveyors
  • Programmers & software developers
These occupations will usually require a degree or equivalent formal qualification. Main tasks will involve practical application of theoretical knowledge and increasing stock of knowledge through communicating and teaching.

Hospitality, Catering or Leisure Services

Example job roles
Category description
Managers, Directors & Senior Officials
  • Direction and co-ordination of organisations and businesses
  • Management of internal departments and sections
Covers occupations where main tasks consist of direction and co-ordination of organisations and businesses (Including internal departments / sections). Requires a significant amount of knowledge on the processes of the business
Admin & secretarial
  • Secretaries, receptionists, PAs, telephonists
  • Book-keepers, credit controllers/wage clerks
  • Office assistants, office managers
  • Database assistants
These occupations undertake general admin, clerical, secretarial work and perform a variety of specialist client orientated clerical duties. Most occupations will require a good standard of general education.
Elementary occupations
  • Cleaners, security guards
  • Labourers
  • Kitchen/catering assistants
  • Bar staff; waiters & waitresses
  • Dry cleaners, launderers
  • Leisure & theme park attendants
This covers occupations that involve mostly routine tasks usually involving use of simple hand held tools and in some cases physical effort. Most do not require formal educational qualifications.
Process, plant & machine operatives
  • Vehicle operators / drivers, including HGV / van / fork-lift drivers
  • Machine operatives
  • Food, drink & tobacco process operatives
This covers people who operate vehicles and other mobile and stationary machinery, monitor industrial and plant equipment, or to assemble products. Most will not have a particular standard of education but will usually have formal experience related training.
Sales & Customer Service Occupations
  • Sales assistants, retail cashiers
  • Sales / customer service managers
  • Customer care occupations
  • Telesales, call centre agents
  • (NOT THE FOLLOWING: Sales representatives)
Occupations whose tasks require knowledge and experience necessary to sell goods and services, accept payment and replenish stocks.
Caring, Leisure & Other Service Occupations
  • Travel agents, travel assistants
  • Sport and leisure assistants
  • Hairdressers and beauticians
  • Care assistants, nursery nurses / childminders
  • Housekeepers, caretakers
These occupations involve provision of service to customers whether in a public protective or personal care capacity. Main tasks involved usually include the care of sick, elderly and children and the provision of travel, care and hygiene services.
Skilled Trades Occupations
  • Chefs, cooks
  • Catering and bar managers
  • Butchers, bakers
  • Gardeners / landscape gardeners
  • Groundsmen & greenkeepers
  • Electricians, plumbers, printers
  • (NOT THE FOLLOWING: Science and engineering technicians)
Covers occupations where main tasks involve the performance of complex physical duties that normally involve initiative and other practical skills.
Associate Professional and Technical Occupations
  • Sales representatives, sales accounts managers
  • Fitness instructors, sports coaches, instructors and officials
  • Conference & exhibition managers & organisers
  • Buying and purchasing officers
  • Human resources officers
  • Accounting technicians
  • Health and safety officers
  • IT / science / lab technicians
There main tasks require experience and knowledge to assist in supporting professionals or managers. Most will have relevant high level vocational qualifications involving a substantial period of full time training or further study.
Professional Occupations
  • Therapy professionals, nurses
  • Programmers, software development and IT professionals
  • Web design & development professionals
  • Accountants, economists
  • Solicitors, lawyers
These occupations will usually require a degree or equivalent formal qualification. Main tasks will involve practical application of theoretical knowledge and increasing stock of knowledge through communicating and teaching.

Health or Social Care

Example job roles
Category description
Managers, Directors & Senior Officials
  • Direction and co-ordination of organisations and businesses
  • Management of internal departments and sections
Covers occupations where main tasks consist of direction and co-ordination of organisations and businesses (Including internal departments / sections). Requires a significant amount of knowledge on the processes of the business
Admin & secretarial
  • Secretaries, receptionists, PAs, telephonists
  • Book-keepers, credit controllers/wage clerks
  • Office assistants, office managers
  • Database assistants
These occupations undertake general admin, clerical, secretarial work and perform a variety of specialist client orientated clerical duties. Most occupations will require a good standard of general education.
Elementary occupations
  • Cleaners, security guards
  • Kitchen/catering assistants
  • Launderers, dry cleaners & pressers
  • Hospital porters
This covers occupations that involve mostly routine tasks usually involving use of simple hand held tools and in some cases physical effort. Most do not require formal educational qualifications.
Process, plant & machine operatives
  • Vehicle operators / drivers
  • Machine operatives
This covers people who operate vehicles and other mobile and stationary machinery, monitor industrial and plant equipment, or to assemble products. Most will not have a particular standard of education but will usually have formal experience related training.
Sales & Customer Service Occupations
  • Sales assistants, sales supervisors
  • Call centre agents
  • Customer care occupations
Occupations whose tasks require knowledge and experience necessary to sell goods and services, accept payment and replenish stocks.
Caring, Leisure & Other Service Occupations
  • Care assistants, nursery nurses / childminders
  • Housekeepers, caretakers
  • Home carers
  • Ambulance staff
  • Teaching assistants
  • Dental / veterinary nurses
  • Nursing auxiliaries and assistants
  • Houseparents & residential wardens
  • (NOT THE FOLLOWING: Professional medical nurses, midwives, physiotherapists and social workers or paramedics)
These occupations involve provision of service to customers whether in a public protective or personal care capacity. Main tasks involved usually include the care of sick, elderly and children and the provision of travel, care and hygiene services.
Skilled Trades Occupations
  • Chefs, cooks
  • Catering managers
  • Gardeners, landscape gardeners, groundsmen & greenkeepers
Covers occupations where main tasks involve the performance of complex physical duties that normally involve initiative and other practical skills.
Associate Professional and Technical Occupations
  • Paramedics
  • Youth and Community workers
  • Human resources officers
  • Sports coaches, instructors & officials
  • Medical & dental technicians
  • Pharmaceutical technicians
  • Accounting technicians
  • Health and safety officers
  • IT / science / engineering / lab technicians
Their main tasks require experience and knowledge to assist in supporting professionals or managers. Most will have relevant high level vocational qualifications involving a substantial period of full time training or further study.
Professional Occupations
  • Doctors, nurses, midwives
  • Psychologists
  • Social workers
  • Occupational therapists
  • Medical practitioners
  • Speech and language therapists
  • Pharmacists
  • Veterinarians
  • Dental practitioners
  • Software and IT professionals
  • Accountants
  • Solicitors, lawyers
These occupations will usually require a degree or equivalent formal qualification. Main tasks will involve practical application of theoretical knowledge and increasing stock of knowledge through communicating and teaching.

Public Sector or Education

Example job roles
Category description
Managers, Directors & Senior Officials
  • Direction and co-ordination of organisations and businesses
  • Management of internal departments and sections
Covers occupations where main tasks consist of direction and co-ordination of organisations and businesses (Including internal departments / sections). Requires a significant amount of knowledge on the processes of the business
Admin & secretarial
  • Secretaries, receptionists, PAs, telephonists
  • Book-keepers, credit controllers/wage clerks
  • Local government officers, civil service officers
  • Office managers, office supervisors, office assistants
  • Library assistants, database assistants
  • HR administrators
  • Library clerks and assistants
These occupations undertake general admin, clerical, secretarial work and perform a variety of specialist client orientated clerical duties. Most occupations will require a good standard of general education.
Elementary occupations
  • Cleaners, security guards
  • Labourers
  • Kitchen/catering assistants
  • Road sweepers, traffic wardens
  • School midday and crossing patrol occupations
This covers occupations that involve mostly routine tasks usually involving use of simple hand held tools and in some cases physical effort. Most do not require formal educational qualifications.
Process, plant & machine operatives
  • Vehicle operators / drivers
  • Machine operatives
This covers people who operate vehicles and other mobile and stationary machinery, monitor industrial and plant equipment, or to assemble products. Most will not have a particular standard of education but will usually have formal experience related training.
Sales & Customer Service Occupations
  • Customer service managers, call centre agents
  • Customer care occupations
  • Sales / retail assistants, sales supervisors
Occupations whose tasks require knowledge and experience necessary to sell goods and services, accept payment and replenish stocks.
Caring, Leisure & Other Service Occupations
  • Caretakers, housekeepers
  • Care workers, home carers
  • Educational support assistants
  • Nursery nurses and assistants
  • Teaching assistants
  • Pest control officers
  • Animal care occupations
  • Sport and leisure assistants
  • (NOT THE FOLLOWING: Social workers, youth workers, welfare officers)
These occupations involve provision of service to customers whether in a public protective or personal care capacity. Main tasks involved usually include the care of sick, elderly and children and the provision of travel, care and hygiene services.
Skilled Trades Occupations
  • Electricians, plumbers
  • Chefs, cooks
  • Printers
  • Gardeners & landscape gardeners
  • Groundsmen and greenkeepers
  • IT engineers
  • Construction and building trades
  • (NOT THE FOLLOWING: Science and engineering technicians)
Covers occupations where main tasks involve the performance of complex physical duties that normally involve initiative and other practical skills.
Associate Professional and Technical Occupations
  • Accounting technicians
  • Human resources officers
  • Health and safety officers
  • Junior police/fire/prison officers
  • Community workers
  • Careers advisors
  • Welfare / Housing officers
  • Youth and community workers
  • Vocational / Industrial trainers and instructors
  • IT / science / engineering / lab technicians
Their main tasks require experience and knowledge to assist in supporting professionals or managers. Most will have relevant high level vocational qualifications involving a substantial period of full time training or further study.
Professional Occupations
  • Programmers, software development and IT professionals
  • Web design & development professionals
  • Accountants
  • Solicitors, lawyers, barristers & judges
  • Economists
  • Teachers
  • Social workers
  • Librarians
  • Engineers
  • Occupational therapists
  • Writers/journalists
These occupations will usually require a degree or equivalent formal qualification. Main tasks will involve practical application of theoretical knowledge and increasing stock of knowledge through communicating and teaching.

None of the above / Other

Example job roles
Category description
Managers, Directors & Senior Officials
  • Direction and co-ordination of organisations and businesses
  • Management of internal departments and sections
Covers occupations where main tasks consist of direction and co-ordination of organisations and businesses (Including internal departments / sections). Requires a significant amount of knowledge on the processes of the business
Admin & secretarial
  • Secretaries, receptionists, PAs, telephonists
  • Book-keepers, credit controllers/wage clerks
  • Office assistants, office managers
  • Local government officers
  • HR administrators
These occupations undertake general admin, clerical, secretarial work and perform a variety of specialist client orientated clerical duties. Most occupations will require a good standard of general education.
Elementary occupations
  • Cleaners
  • Packers, goods handling / storage
  • Kitchen/catering assistants
  • Waiting staff, bar staff
  • Security guards
  • Launderers, dry cleaners & pressers
  • Farm / forestry / fishing workers
  • Postal workers, messengers & couriers
This covers occupations that involve mostly routine tasks usually involving use of simple hand held tools and in some cases physical effort. Most do not require formal educational qualifications.
Process, plant & machine operatives
  • Vehicle operators / drivers
  • Machine operatives
  • Assemblers and sorters
  • Quarry workers
  • Scaffolders
This covers people who operate vehicles and other mobile and stationary machinery, monitor industrial and plant equipment, or to assemble products. Most will not have a particular standard of education but will usually have formal experience related training.
Sales & Customer Service Occupations
  • Sales assistants, sales managers / supervisors
  • Call centre agents, telesales
  • Customer care occupations, customer service managers / supervisors
  • (NOT THE FOLLOWING: Sales representatives)
Occupations whose tasks require knowledge and experience necessary to sell goods and services, accept payment and replenish stocks.
Caring, Leisure & Other Service Occupations
  • Care assistants, nursery nurses / childminders
  • Housekeepers, caretakers
  • Travel agents / assistants
  • Hairdressers and beauticians
  • Educational support assistants
  • Animal care services
  • Air / rail travel assistants
  • (NOT THE FOLLOWING: Professional medical nurses, social workers or paramedics)
These occupations involve provision of service to customers whether in a public protective or personal care capacity. Main tasks involved usually include the care of sick, elderly and children and the provision of travel, care and hygiene services.
Skilled Trades Occupations
  • Electricians, plumbers, carpenters
  • IT engineers, TV engineers
  • Mechanics
  • Chefs, cooks, butchers, bakers
  • Catering and bar managers
  • Gardeners / groundsmen, florists
  • Construction and building trades
  • (NOT THE FOLLOWING: Science and engineering technicians)
Covers occupations where main tasks involve the performance of complex physical duties that normally involve initiative and other practical skills.
Associate Professional and Technical Occupations
  • Human resources officers
  • Accounting technicians
  • Health and safety officers
  • Sales representatives, accounts managers
  • Estate agents, auctioneers
  • Conference / exhibition managers, organisers
  • Sports coaches, instructors & officials
  • Product designers, graphic designers
  • IT / science / engineering / lab technicians
Their main tasks require experience and knowledge to assist in supporting professionals or managers. Most will have relevant high level vocational qualifications involving a substantial period of full time training or further study.
Professional Occupations
  • Programmers, software development and IT professionals
  • Doctors, nurses, midwives
  • Solicitors, lawyers, accountants
  • Social workers
  • Teachers
  • Management consultants & business analysts
  • Engineering professionals
  • Construction project managers
  • Journalists, newspaper editors
These occupations will usually require a degree or equivalent formal qualification. Main tasks will involve practical application of theoretical knowledge and increasing stock of knowledge through communicating and teaching.