What skill is considered basic and is used by clerical workers to top management?

The skill identified as keyboarding is fundamental for clerical workers and serves as a vital tool that supports effective communication and data management across all levels of an organization, including to top management. Proficiency in keyboarding enables individuals to produce documents, reports, and correspondence efficiently, thus facilitating smooth operations within an office environment. Since clerical positions often involve significant amounts of written communication and data entry, having strong keyboarding skills is essential for executing tasks accurately and swiftly.

While data analysis is important in many business roles, it tends to be more specialized and is typically expected at advanced levels rather than as a basic skill. Project management and public speaking are also valuable skills, but they are more advanced than what is typically required of clerical staff. Keyboarding stands out as a foundational capability that underpins many clerical tasks and is commonly used across the hierarchy of a business.