When we talk about employability, most people focus on how to get hired. However, employable skills can be viewed in a broader sense — not just as tools for getting a job, but as assets that determine how and where you can apply your abilities. Couple years ago, I wrote about  Classification of IT Career Paths, I thought I could expand on it to describe it as it relates to skills and jobs generally. I intend to classify skills according to their mothods of potential application: simply - based on what the skill can do for the person who acquire such skill.

Every skill has a unique economic value and potential for application. Some are ideal for personal service delivery, others thrive within organizational structures, and some allow you to create products that can stand on their own.

Based on this, employable skills can be classified into three kinds, according to their methods of potential application.

1. Service-Oriented Practical Skills

These are hands-on skills that are primarily service-based. They can easily be offered directly to clients or through employment. What makes them unique is the low barrier to entry for entrepreneurship — meaning that individuals can start a small business with minimal capital or infrastructure.

Examples:

• Hairdressing

• Catering

• Tailoring

• Makeup artistry

• Plumbing

• Photography

• Football coaching

Scenario:
A hairdresser can work at a salon and earn a salary, or set up a small salon to serve clients independently. The skill itself is enough to start generating income almost immediately, without needing complex systems or certifications.

These kinds of skills empower individuals to be self-reliant and build livelihoods quickly.

2. Organizational or Institutional Skills

These are also service-based, but they usually operate best within structured environments such as schools, hospitals, law firms, or corporations.

People with these skills can easily secure jobs and earn salaries, but creating independent businesses based solely on these skills is often more challenging. It usually requires significant investment, licensing, or organizational structure.

Examples:

• Teaching

• Accounting

• Human Resources management

• Nursing

• Legal practice

• Administrative management

Scenario:
A teacher can be employed by a school and earn a stable income. However, establishing their own school requires substantial capital, government approval, and staff. This makes the entrepreneurial route more complex compared to service-oriented practical skills.

These skills thrive within institutions and systems, where structure, compliance, and collaboration are essential.

3. Productive or Creative Technical Skills

This category includes hard skills that can be applied both as services and as product-based ventures.

Individuals with these skills can work as employees, freelancers, or creators — producing goods or digital products that can generate income passively or at scale.

Examples:

• Fashion design

• Software development

• Carpentry or furniture design

• Graphic design

• Shoe making

• Content creation (writing, animation, music production)

Scenario:
A software developer can work for a tech company and earn a salary, or build a mobile app and earn income directly from users. Similarly, a fashion designer can sew for clients or produce ready-made designs for sale.

These skills are powerful because they provide multiple pathways — employment, self-employment, and product creation.

Conclusion

Every employable skill carries potential — the key is understanding how it can be applied.

• Service-oriented practical skills help you start small and earn quickly.

• Organizational or institutional skills thrive within structured employment systems.

• Productive or creative technical skills give you flexibility to work, innovate, and create products that build long-term value.

Recognizing which type of skill you possess allows you to make smarter career and business decisions. Ultimately, true employability goes beyond getting a job — it's about knowing how your skill can work for you.