Final answer:
The U.S. Department of Labor SCANS report categorizes workplace skills into competencies and foundation skills, with a focus on transferable skills that employers value across different job settings.
Step-by-step explanation:
The U.S. Department of Labor SCANS report places workplace skills in two categories: competencies and the foundation skills that underlie them.
Employers are particularly interested in individuals with transferable skills, which are capabilities that can be applied in various settings, contributing to a multitude of tasks. The recognition of these skills' importance is evident in resources like the O*Net database, which lists knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for success in different occupations. Furthermore, the degree of skill required for a job relates to its importance, implying that more complex jobs require higher levels of skill and are thereby deemed more crucial.