Conceptualizing and Measuring Occupational Language Skills

This presentations shows the evolution and transformations during last century of language as a skill within Labor Relations frameworks. Starting with the first ILO conventions/standards, language has undergone an evolution towards becoming a key element for the definition of professional boundaries and payment systems. Our data and analysis is based on documentary analysis of Labor Rules and Collective Agreements from Spain and the European Union. We distinguish three main historical stages regarding the incorporation of language within occupational frameworks, determining different boundaries and levels of occupation and wages: 1920-1960 (faulty act); 1960-1975 (rationalization), and 1975-present (depersonalization). Building on the construction of language categories during the past century, we propose a broad system of indicators to measure language skills in the current industrial relations systems, which allows us to better understand the problems of productivity of companies and employability of workers.