Global Skill-Related Taxonomies Landscape Scan

New Working Paper (February, 2025)

The Landscape of Skill-related Taxonomies

Skill-related taxonomies, including taxonomies of skills, occupations, and fields of study, are abundant - yet different countries and organizations have taken vastly different approaches to defining concepts and building their taxonomies. The use of taxonomies also varies widely, though in general we see evidence that taxonomies are not used to their full potential. In this global landscape scan, we explore key characteristics of major global skill taxonomies and provide recommendations for how the development and use of taxonomies can be improved. Sincere thanks to the Gates Foundation for supporting this research!